By: The Associated Press via Nexstar Media Wire
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DOHA, Qatar (AP) — World Cup organizers will ban the sale of all beer mixed with alcohol at eight stadiums used for the soccer tournament, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
The decision comes two days before the start of the Games in Qatar.
The person said non-alcoholic beer will still be available to fans at 64 matches.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because organizers have not yet announced the decision.
Budweiser’s parent company AB InBev pays hundreds of millions of dollars each World Cup for the exclusive right to sell the beer. The company’s partnership with FIFA began at the 1986 tournament.
When Qatar launched its bid to host the World Cup, the country agreed to respect FIFA’s commercial partners, and again signed the contract after winning the vote in 2010.
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the host country was forced to change laws to allow the sale of alcohol in stadiums.
