Alcohol will not be permitted at stadiums during the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, as confirmed by reports from The Guardian.
The decision means that beer will not be available for sale at any of the tournament venues.
However, the specifics regarding alcohol sales in fan zones and hotels remain uncertain, with FIFA indicating it will not pressure Saudi authorities to modify the nation’s stringent alcohol laws.
This approach follows lessons learned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where local officials reversed a prior agreement to allow alcohol sales at stadiums, resulting in FIFA having to compensate its sponsor, AB InBev, to the tune of £40 million.
In Saudi Arabia, alcohol consumption is entirely banned, with only non-Muslim diplomats permitted to buy alcohol from a single store in Riyadh.
This strict regulation aims to curb alcohol smuggling by diplomats. Given the current climate, further changes to alcohol accessibility within the country are not expected, ensuring that the prohibition will remain in place during the World Cup.
Saudi Arabia’s rights to host the tournament was confirmed last week at the FIFA General Assembly.
