The crowds at the 2022 World Cup may be a little less rowdy than usual.
According to a report from Reuters, the stadiums at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be selling alcohol. However, beer can be sold outside the arenas before and after matches.
This year’s World Cup will be in Qatar from Nov. 21 through Dec. 18, with 32 countries competing in the international tournament that is played every four years. Qatar is the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup, making it also the first Muslim country with alcohol controls to welcome the world for soccer’s biggest event.
Consuming alcohol isn’t wholly illegal in Qatar as it is in Saudi Arabia, which borders Qatar, but drinking alcohol in public places is against the law. Being drunk in public is also a crime in Qatar. But soccer fans will be able to buy beer during specific times inside of FIFA’s fan zone in Doha, Qatar’s capital.
Reuters reports that 1.2 million soccer fans are expected to attend games at the World Cup in Qatar.
While this year’s World Cup is believed to be the first to have an alcohol ban in stadiums, it isn’t the first time a host country has considered it. In 2014, Brazil had a ban on alcohol in stadiums, but it was lifted after pressure from FIFA.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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