Budweiser has pledged to send all of the beer that it couldn't sell in Qatar to the winning country, too.
It was just 48 hours away from the start of the tournament when Budweiser, which paid a reported $75 million to become the tournament's official beer sponsor, learned that Qatari officials had changed their minds. The company was told it would no longer be allowing them to sell any alcoholic beverages inside or outside the eight stadiums where matches would be held.
The decision reportedly was "a shock" not only to Budweiser but also to FIFA.
An AB InBev spokesperson said they will host the ultimate championship celebration for the winning country.
The sale of alcoholic beverages will be focused on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations, and licensed venues.
But on-site soccer fans' losses are going to be some other country's gain — assuming that their beer drinkers are into cans of Budweiser.
The winners of this year's Qatar World Cup will get the World Cup trophy, an iconic gold and malachite sculpture that weighs over 13 pounds, and $42 million in prize money.
