Budweiser brewer renews with FIFA to 2026 despite World Cup stadium beer ban in Qatar
Budweiser will still be the official World Cup beer through the 2026 tournament in the United States
GENEVA (AP) — Budweiser will still be the official World Cup beer through the 2026 tournament in the United States, after brewer AB InBev renewed with FIFA on Thursday despite a troubled time with men’s 2022 World Cup host Qatar.
Two days before the tournament began in Qatar, World Cup organizers withdrew a longstanding promise to let fans at stadiums buy beer with alcohol.
The move blindsided the brewer whose Budweiser brand has been the World Cup beer since the 1986 tournament.
FIFA seemed unable to protect AB InBev under pressure from Qatar in a dispute which seemed a potential breach of contract issue for soccer’s world body. The conservative Muslim nation signed up to honor FIFA's commercial partners when it started bidding to be host in 2009.
