Guardian Can't Drink At Saudi World Cup Stadium 2034
Dec 18, 2024
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The Guardian said on the 17th (local time) that a senior FIFA official `there is no possibility that beer will be sold at the stadium," he reported.
Saudi Arabia has banned alcohol sales by law since 1952, and is still not allowed in luxury hotels or public places. In January this year, a store in Riyadh only began selling alcohol under strict control to diplomats.
FIFA previously suffered controversy over the ban on beer sales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At that time, the Royal Family of Altani withdrew the sale of beer at the stadium just before the World Cup was held, and it had to pay enormous compensation worth about 40 million pounds (about 66 billion won) to its sponsor AB InBev (Budweiser's parent company). AB InBev, which extended its partnership with FIFA until the 2026 World Cup, has demanded a clear position from FIFA on its plans for the 2034 World Cup.
FIFA is reportedly not planning to put pressure on the Saudi government to ease it in respect of the Saudi government at this Saudi World Cup. It is uncertain whether alcohol will be sold in fan zones and hotels as well as stadiums.
In this regard, the Guardian reported that FIFA relies on the Saudi government for financial support and maintains a very close relationship.
Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco has signed a four-year sponsorship contract of 320 million pounds (about 528 billion won) to FIFA, and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund will invest in DAZN, a streaming company that paid 800 million pounds (about 1.3 trillion won) to FIFA for Club World Cup broadcast rights.
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