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Saudi Arabia to Lift Alcohol Ban for FIFA World Cup 2034? Government Responds

May 26, 2025, 9:44 pm

Saudi Arabia on Monday dismissed reports in the media that the kingdom will relax its 73-year-old prohibition on alcohol, banned for Muslims in Islam, as part of reform efforts in preparation to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Unverified Reports Spark Controversy in Saudi Arabia

The alleged proposal, which was covered by a wine blog last week, stated Saudi officials were considering to permit the sale of alcohol in tourist environments as the kingdom gears up to host the sports extravaganza. The report cited no source for this information.

The report evoked an online controversy among citizens of the kingdom, which refers to itself as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

Only Saudi Arabia and Kuwait ban alcohol sales in the Gulf region. Last year saw some easing of alcohol restrictions when the first alcohol shop in the capital, Riyadh, opened last year selling only to non-Muslim diplomats. Alcohol was previously accessible only via diplomatic mail or on the black market.

Vision 2030 and Reforms Under MBS in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s effective leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, has introduced a series of reforms since taking control of the kingdom’s affairs. These formed part of his efforts to diversify the economy of the kingdom away from oil under his Vision 2030.

MBS granted permission to women to drive in 2017 and also carried out other reforms that were deemed impossible earlier in the petroleum-rich kingdom. Certain sex segregation rules in public places were relaxed and the authority of the religious police was held in check.

Women above 21 years were granted permission to secure passports and travel overseas without the consent of their male guardians. They were permitted to register births, marriages, and divorces as well.

Opening Doors to Global Visitors

Other steps taken to welcome foreign visitors are letting people dance at desert raves to viewing models on catwalks or attending the movies.

MBS’s $14 trillion megacity “NEOM” with futuristic projects such as “The Line” and “Trojena,” a vertical ski village have garnered international attention.

Brazil Fires Dorival Júnior After Embarrassing Loss to Argentina

March 29, 2025, 6:20 pm

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has fired head coach Dorival Júnior after a humiliating 4-1 loss to Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match played in Buenos Aires. It comes just over a year since Dorival took office in just January of last year and Brazil sacking their head coach this early comes as a shock for many fans.

Dorival Júnior’s tenure was one of expectation due to the previous successes he had achieved with Flamengo, where he won the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup in 2022. His experience with the national side was less rewarding, returning seven wins in 16 games. The team’s Copa América performance was most disappointing; Brazil was knocked out of the quarter-finals by Uruguay in a penalty shootout after losing a one-man advantage for much of the match.

Brazil faces Historic Defeat to Argentina

The recent loss to Argentina not only deepened concerns about the team’s direction but also highlighted defensive vulnerabilities. Argentina’s dominant performance, with goals from Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone, underscored Brazil’s struggles on the field.

This loss was Brazil’s worst World Cup qualifying defeat and had put the team in a critical situation, ranking fifth in the South American qualifiers. With tensions escalating, the CBF concluded that a new leadership was needed to restore the chances of the squad in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

CBF’s Statement and Future Plans

The CBF, led by President Ednaldo Rodrigues, was thankful for the work done by Dorival but indicated the need for change to restore the team’s hopes. Rodrigues, who has overseen a series of coach changes since coming to office, now has to make the challenge of naming Brazil’s fifth coach in more than three years.

Speculation is rampant on who will replace Dorival. Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti has long been in the radar of the CBF, albeit past attempts to acquire his services failed. The other leading candidate is Jorge Jesus, who is currently in charge of Saudi club Al-Hilal. Rumors are that Jesus is willing to leave his current job to accept the national team position.

With Brazil set to face Ecuador and Paraguay in June’s upcoming qualifiers, the need to select a new head coach is urgent. The national team’s current ranking demands swift enhancements to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The CBF’s choice will be critical in determining the future direction of Brazilian football, seeking to restore the country’s national team’s prestige and competitive advantage on the international stage.

Argentina Defeats Brazil 4-1 in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

March 26, 2025, 2:13 pm

In a commanding performance during the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina secured a 4-1 victory over Brazil at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires. This emphatic win not only reaffirmed Argentina’s dominance in the region but also marked their qualification for the upcoming World Cup.

Match Overview of Argentina Vs Brazil in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Argentina commenced the match with remarkable intensity, establishing an early lead that set the tone for the encounter. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring in the 4th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to give the hosts an early advantage. Enzo Fernández doubled the lead in the 12th minute, showcasing his attacking prowess with a well-placed shot.

Despite Brazil’s efforts to regroup, Matheus Cunha managed to reduce the deficit in the 26th minute, seizing upon an error in Argentina’s defense. However, Argentina responded swiftly, with Alexis Mac Allister restoring the two-goal cushion in the 37th minute. The definitive moment came in the 71st minute when Giuliano Simeone netted the fourth goal, sealing a comprehensive victory for Argentina.

Tactical Mastery Without Key Players in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Notably, Argentina achieved this resounding victory without the services of their star forwards, Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, both sidelined due to injuries. Their absence did not deter the team’s performance, as the younger players stepped up admirably to fill the void. The tactical acumen displayed by head coach Lionel Scaloni was evident, as he orchestrated a game plan that effectively neutralized Brazil’s attacking threats while exploiting defensive vulnerabilities.

Defensive Challenges faced by Brazil against Argentina

On the other hand, Brazil’s defensive frailties were exposed throughout the match. The backline struggled to cope with Argentina’s relentless attacks, leading to their heaviest defeat in FIFA World Cup qualifying history. This result has intensified scrutiny on head coach Dorival Jr., who has faced challenges in achieving consistent results since his appointment.

Captain Marquinhos publicly apologized to fans post-match, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings and emphasizing the need for immediate improvements. With Brazil’s rich football history, a performance like this raises concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level.

Implications for World Cup Qualification

With this victory, Argentina solidified their position atop the South American qualifying standings, ensuring their participation in the 2026 World Cup. Conversely, Brazil remains in fourth place with 21 points, maintaining a six-point lead over seventh-placed Venezuela. While their qualification prospects are still favorable, the team must address its inconsistencies to secure a spot in the tournament and emerge as genuine contenders.

Argentina’s triumph over Brazil serves as a testament to their depth and resilience, even in the absence of key players. As they prepare for the World Cup, maintaining this momentum will be crucial. For Brazil, this defeat serves as a wake-up call, highlighting areas that require urgent attention. The path to qualification remains within reach, but significant improvements are necessary to compete at the highest level.

This historic encounter not only adds another chapter to the storied rivalry between Argentina and Brazil but also sets the stage for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for both teams on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Japan, New Zealand Secure Their Spots

March 25, 2025, 6:34 pm

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the list of qualified teams continues to grow. Japan and New Zealand both have secured their spots through distinct qualification paths set to be take place next year.

Japan’s Road to Qualification

Japan made history by becoming the first nation, outside of the host countries, to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Their qualification was sealed with a decisive 2-0 victory over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on March 20, 2025. This win solidified Japan’s impressive record in Group C of the third round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers.

This achievement marks Japan’s eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance, underscoring their consistent presence on football’s biggest stage. Historically, the Samurai Blue have reached the Round of 16 on four occasions, reflecting their competitive stature in international football. The 2026 tournament will be particularly significant for Japan as it represents their debut World Cup appearance in North America.

New Zealand’s Path to the World Cup

In the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), New Zealand has emerged as the region’s representative for the 2026 World Cup. The OFC qualification process, which ran from September 6, 2024, to March 24, 2025, saw New Zealand navigate through a series of matches to secure their spot. This qualification marks the first time the OFC has been granted a direct slot in the World Cup.

New Zealand’s consistent performance throughout the qualifiers underscores their dominance in the Oceania region. With this qualification, the All Whites are set to make their fourth World Cup appearance, having previously participated in the 1982, 2010, and 2014 tournaments. Their return to the global stage presents an opportunity to showcase the growth and development of football in New Zealand.

Other Qualified Teams

In addition to Japan and New Zealand, the host nations United States, Canada, and Mexico have also secured automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

As the tournament will feature an expanded format with 48 teams with numerous spots remain up for grabs, with qualifying matches ongoing across various confederations.

The qualifications of Japan and New Zealand highlight the diverse paths teams undertake to reach the World Cup. As preparations continue, both teams will aim to build upon their successes and make a significant impact in the 2026 tournament.

FIFA Rejects Key Worker Compensation in Qatar World Cup Legacy Plan Faces Backlash

November 30, 2024, 7:40 pm

Subcommittee Calls for Worker Compensation, but FIFA Redirects Funds

A long-delayed FIFA report on the human rights legacy of the Qatar World Cup was finally published, revealing the organization’s rejection of its key recommendation. FIFA’s human rights subcommittee argued that the $50 million legacy fund should compensate workers harmed during the 2022 tournament. Instead, FIFA allocated the fund to global development projects.

The report, commissioned in March 2023 and delayed for nearly a year, highlights that “severe human rights impacts” occurred in Qatar between 2010 and 2022, with FIFA bearing partial responsibility. While acknowledging improvements in worker conditions, the subcommittee emphasized the need for financial remedy through the legacy fund. However, days before publication, FIFA announced the fund would support initiatives with the World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, and UNHCR.

Human Rights Obligations and FIFA’s Response

Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, welcomed the report’s release, underscoring its significance in clarifying FIFA’s human rights responsibilities. She stressed that the report ties FIFA’s obligations to its statutes, particularly Article 6, which commits FIFA to remediation efforts for adverse human rights impacts.

FIFA defended its decision, stating that while not all recommendations were feasible, the legacy fund will still serve global communities. A spokesperson highlighted the establishment of a workers’ support fund in Qatar since 2018.

Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup Bid Draws Scrutiny

The report’s release coincides with FIFA’s upcoming vote to approve Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup host. Despite criticism over the kingdom’s human rights record, FIFA’s assessment rated the risk of violations as “medium.” The bid is described as a “strong proposition” and could be approved without formal voting.

Klaveness reiterated that while global projects are valuable, they cannot replace direct remedies for affected workers.

Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d’Or title for the eighth time

October 31, 2023, 1:09 pm

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine player who won the FIFA World Cup, was honored with the coveted Ballon d’Or award on Monday night for the eighth time in his illustrious career.This honor serves as a constant reminder of Messi’s brilliance as he approaches the last stages of his career. With this victory, Messi made history by becoming the first player from Major League Soccer (MLS) to take home the esteemed trophy. He is an Inter Miami club representative. The owner of Inter Miami and legendary English football player David Beckham gave Messi the award.

He previously won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
The young boy from Santa Fe who made his first appearance in 2004 has enjoyed a career that can be deemed nothing short of a fairytale.
Messi’s career which lasted for almost 30 years saw him heartbroken in 2014 after missing out on the World Cup and eight years later channelling the inner Maradona and redeeming himself by bringing the most prized possession – the World Cup trophy back to his homeland, Argentina.
His seven goals in the tournament raised a glimmer of hope in the hearts of each of his fans who dreamed of lifting him the World Cup trophy after Argentina lost unexpectedly to Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool signs winner Alexis Mac Allister for 35 million pounds

June 9, 2023, 12:33 pm

Liverpool completed the signing of Argentine Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion for 35 million pounds on Friday.

Alexis MacAllister, a midfielder, was instrumental in Argentina’s victory at the FIFA World Cup 2022. After four years with Brighton & Hove Albion, the 24-year-old is now ready to play for Liverpool in the upcoming Premier League season.

According to Liverpool’s official website, Alexis Mac Allister said, “It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to get started. I wanted to be in the first day of pre-season, so it’s good that everything is done. I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates.”

The Argentine national added that, “It was a fantastic year for me – World Cup, what we achieved with Brighton – but now it’s time to think about Liverpool and try to be a better player and a better human being every day.”

Read the full interview with @alemacallister after the 24-year-old became the Reds' first addition of the summer ✍️

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 8, 2023

Alexis MacAllister will play an important role in Liverpool’s midfield. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also desired a stable option in the midfield, but injuries to a few players and inconsistent play by others left a gap in the midfield for Liverpool.

Panama earned first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification

February 23, 2023, 6:49 pm

Following a 1-0 win against Paraguay in the Women’s World Cup 2023, Panama secured a spot in the Intercontinental Payoffs at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton in New Zealand. Although Panama had to wait till the 75th minute to break the deadlock.

However, during the Half-time, the Panamanian footballer, Cedeno met a free kick from Marta Cox with a strong header to give her team the advantage that they maintained till the final whistle. This win of the team made them to qualify for the global sporting event.

The event is scheduled to take place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, 2023. Though the victory was narrow but it was all that Panama needed. The team had earned their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification. Now they will be joining France, Jamaica and Brazil in Group F.

In the country’s football history, this women’s team earned a greatest win. During the Post-game interview, Riley Tanner said, “This is a dream come true. It was definitely a grind out there for us today.”

“Paraguay is a really good team, so we never thought we would find it easy to play our football. All that mattered in this match was winning, qualifying, and we are just so happy that we have done that. This whole experience has been amazing,” Tanner added.

FIFA World Cup heroes return to action with Laliga, Serie A, Ligue1

December 28, 2022, 3:22 pm

After locking horns in the FIFA World Cup final, Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe and Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi will come together alongside several other sensational players for Paris SaintGermain (PSG) in the Ligue1. The French club’s fixture on December 29 is likely to also feature World Cup stars such Brazil’s Neymar. LaLiga will see the return of 2022 FIFA World Cup winners like Rodrigo De Paul for Atletico de Madrid and Alejandro Gomez for Sevilla FC, along with members of the runners-up French squad like Ousmane Dembele for FC Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann for Atletico de Madrid.

The Serie A is among the most competitive leagues in the world and will see FIFA World Cup winners Angel di Maria and Paulo Dybala return to action for Juventus FC and A.S. Roma respectively. French stars such as Adrien Rabiot will return to action for Juventus while Theo Hernandez will go to battle for AC Milan on January 4, next year, as they vie to conquer Italy in the second half of the Serie A season. wLigue1 will return to our TVs, smartphones and tablets first, as the competition will resume on December 28 with AC Ajaccio facing Angers. LaLiga will kick-off on December 29 with a matchup between Girona and Rayo Vallecano.

The Serie A resumes in the New Year on January 4 with a clash between Salernitana and reigning champions AC Milan. Sassuolo will lock horns with Sampdoria on the same day. Viacom18 Sports, India’s newest premier sports network, will continue bringing the biggest stars of the recently concluded FIFA World Cup Qatar 202 to Indian viewers. LaLiga, Ligue1, and Serie A will be streamed live on JioCinema for free as club football action returns to Europe. Matches from these leagues will also continue to air on Sports18.

Kylian Mbappe clinches Golden Boot; beats Lionel Messi

December 19, 2022, 9:35 am

France’s Kylian Mbappe beats Lionel Messi and secured the Golden Boot in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

France’s Kylian Mbappe hat-trick in finals took him to eight goals at Qatar 2022 and also lead him to win the Golden Boot but ended up on the losing side.

Meanwhile, into the tournament Mbappe and Lionel Messi shared the lead with five goals. Argentina legend Lionel Messi was awarded the Golden Ball at FIFA World Cup. Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez clinched the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper.

Talking about the match it was a battle between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in which Messi’s FIFA World Cup dream was fulfilled, and won the title in a penalty shootout.

Moreover, after their win in FIFA World Cup 2022, Messi announced that he will continue to play football for Argentina.

Talking to the media Messi said, “No, I’m not going to retire from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion.”

The 35-year-old legend made crucial goals, converting penalties and assisting his teammates in scoring, and end up winning the finals.

Earlier on Sunday, a great match was a scene between Argentina and France. In the first half, Argentina was leading by 2-0 and in the second half, both the teams were on 2-2.

However, in Kolkata, hundreds of fans erupted in celebrations on the streets as in 1986 Argentina won its first World Cup and this is the third World Cup.

‘No I’m not going to retire’, says Messi

December 19, 2022, 9:18 am

In the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals on Sunday, it was a battle between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in which Messi’s FIFA World Cup dream was fulfilled, and won the title in a penalty shootout.

Now millions of football fans across the world will get some relief as Argentine talisman Lionel Messi has announced that he will continue to play football for Argentina.

Talking to the media Messi said, “No, I’m not going to retire from the Argentina national team. I want to continue playing as a champion.”

The 35-year-old legend made crucial goals, converting penalties and assisting his teammates in scoring, and end up winning the finals.

Earlier on Sunday, a great match was seen between Argentina and France. In the first half, Argentina was leading by 2-0 and in the second half, both the teams were on 2-2.

Meanwhile, Messi ended up as the second-highest goal scorer in the tournament.

Moreover, Argentina’s ambassador to India HJ Gobbi expressed his happiness after his country’s win over France in the FIFA World Cup final.

However, Argentina’s win was also celebrated in India as an event organized by Argentina’s embassy at a hotel in New Delhi.

“It is an emotional moment. I hope this is not Messi’s last World Cup, I want to see another one,” HJ Gobbi, the Ambassador of Argentina said.

Furthermore, in Kolkata hundreds of fans erupted in celebrations on the streets as in 1986 Argentina won it’s first World Cup and this is the third World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina beat Croatia; enters final

December 14, 2022, 11:24 am

In the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina entered the final. Argentina’s two-star players Julian Alvarez’s brace and Lionel Messi’s goal helped Argentina beat Croatia 3-0.

In Argentina’s starting line-up Midfielder Leandro Paredes and defender Nicolas Tagliafico were brought. Croatia started aggressively and in the 16th minute Dejan Lovren’s header came but it was too high with the help of Josip Juranovic’s cross.

Meanwhile, with a 2-0 lead, Argentina went into half-time and in the 69th minute, Messi brilliantly goal and took a lead of 3-0 lead.

Moreover, on 18 December Argentina star footballer Lionel Messi will be playing his last FIFA World Cup game.

Talking to the media Messi said, “I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final.”

Earlier in 2014 Messi’s team reached the FIFA World Cup final. “It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it’s the best. It’s all well and good (the records), but the important thing is to be able to achieve the group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all. We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happen this time,” Messi said.

However, on 15 December the second semifinal will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium between France and Morocco.

Report: Massive fire in Qatar FIFA World Cup city

November 26, 2022, 5:27 pm

The Sun media reports that a significant fire has started in the World Cup city of Lusail in Qatar. Video depicts a plume of dense, black smoke rising close to the fan village of Qetaifan Island North.

The report quoted officials as saying that the blaze broke out in a building under construction in the city. Authorities said the Civil Defense controlled the fire and there were no reported injuries.

As Qatar spent millions preparing for the World Cup, a series of infrastructure problems were followed by the fire.

On an island that is a part of the city of Lusail, which is hosting multiple games during the tournament, including an Argentina-Mexico encounter on Saturday night, according to Qatar’s interior ministry, a fire broke out soon after noon local time.

The distance from the fire to Lusail Stadium was around 3.5 kilometres (2 miles). As World Cup spectators walked amid its stores and eateries, it released thick, black smoke into the sky, which was visible from a bazaar in the heart of Doha.

Zakir Naik was not invited to FIFA World Cup, says Qatar

November 23, 2022, 1:51 pm

Through diplomatic channels, Qatar has informed India that Zakir Naik, an Indian fugitive and ardent Islamist, has not received an official invitation to attend the November 20, 2022 FIFA World Cup opening in Doha. Qatar also asserted that third countries are spreading “disinformation” on purpose to harm bilateral ties between India and Qatar.

The official statement from Qatar followed a direct warning from the Modi administration to Doha that New Delhi would be forced to cancel Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar’s visit to attend the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony if Doha had formally invited Islamist Zakir Naik to watch the soccer event’s opening ceremony from a VVIP box. On November 20, Vice President Dhankar attended the event. The following day, he left Qatar, but not before meeting blue-collar Indian expat workers who had constructed soccer stadiums for the West Asian nation.

Although Qatar authorities said that Zakir Naik could be on a private visit to Doha but till now there has been no positive sighting of the Islamist.

It is believed that the Qatari administration informed its Indian interlocutors that the Zakir Naik scandal as a whole was the product of foreign actors and was a part of a larger disinformation campaign against Qatar.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri reacts on Zakir Naik’s presence at FIFA WC in Qatar

November 22, 2022, 7:28 pm

The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Tuesday that India will bring up Zakir Naik’s presence at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and suggest a decisive action over the issue.

Puri’s remark came as Zakir Naik has been invited to Qatar, where he is scheduled to conduct religious talks throughout the FIFA World Cup tournament.

“I’m sure India took it up and will take it up. But the point is he’s a Malaysian national, you invite him somewhere, whether they knew, I’ve got no knowledge of that,” the Union minister said in a statement.

Savio Rodrigues, a BJP spokesperson, on Tuesday urged the government, the Indian Football Association, and Indians visiting the host country to boycott FIFA in response to Qatar’s controversial invitation of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to the FIFA World Cup.

Rodrigues claimed in a statement that giving Naik a platform at a time when the globe is fighting terrorism is equivalent to letting a “terror sympathiser” “spread hate.”

“The FIFA World Cup is a global event. People from all over the world come to witness this spectacular sport, and millions more watch it on TV and the Internet. Giving a platform to Zakir Naik, at a time when the world is fighting global terrorism, is to give a platform to a terrorist to spread his radicalism and hate,” he said.

In India, Zakir Naik is accused of making hateful statements and money laundering. The Naik-founded Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was designated an unlawful association and outlawed for five years by the Home Ministry in March of this year.

According to the MHA statement, Zakir Naik has been endorsing known terrorists, making his talks unacceptable.

According to the MHA notification, Zakir Naik continues to travel to Gulf countries to raise money, all of which is used solely for radicalising people, particularly Muslim youth. This evidence was presented to the tribunal by the Solicitor General.

In 2016, just before the National Investigation Agency opened an investigation into him, Naik fled to Malaysia.

Intriguingly, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will mark the first occasion that the competition has been held in the final quarter of a calendar year. According to reports, the tournament’s usual months of June and July were not chosen because of the severe weather in Qatar during those months.

32 teams from five confederations are participating in the competition in Qatar. There could be 64 matches played over the course of 29 days.

The participating nations are: the host nation Qatar; Ecuador; Senegal; the Netherlands; England; Iran; the USA; Wales; Argentina; Saudi Arabia; Mexico; Poland; France; Australia; Denmark; Tunisia; Spain; Costa Rica; Germany; Japan; Belgium; Canada; Morocco; and Croatia; as well as Brazil; Serbia; Switzerland; Cameroon; Portugal; Ghana; Uruguay; and South Korea.

FIFA World Cup: Beer ban at Qatar World Cup stadiums

November 19, 2022, 11:12 am

The sale of alcohol near stadiums in Qatar has been banned by the World Cup organizers on Friday. FIFA and Qatari organizers in last-minute dialogue took this discussion.

Taking to Twitter FIFA the FIFA Media Twitter account tweeted, “Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing the sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.”

FIFA issued a statement and said, “There is no impact on the sale of Bud Zero which will remain available at all of Qatar’s World Cup stadiums. Host country authorities and FIFA will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful, and pleasant experience for all fans. The tournament organizers appreciate AB InBev’s understanding and continued support of our joint commitment to cater to everyone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

Earlier, the Qatar government issued a guideline that reads that fans visiting the Middle-Eastern country for FIFA World Cup 2022 have to cover their shoulders and knees.

The guidelines have garnered criticism from across the world for asking the fans flocking to the country to wear appropriate clothes.

The statement issued by Qatar Tourism reads, “Attitudes towards dressing in Qatar are relaxed, but visitors (men as well as women) are expected to show respect for the local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothes in public. It is generally recommended for men and women to ensure their shoulders and knees are covered.”

Moreover, Qatar (Hosts), Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, The Netherlands, Uruguay, Croatia, Denmark, Mexico, the United States, Senegal, Wales, Poland, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Switzerland, Ghana, Korea Republic, Cameroon, Serbia, Canada, Costa Rica, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Ecuador qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Furthermore, in 8 different stadiums across the middle-eastern nation of Qatar the World Cup 2022 will be played at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Stadium 974, Al Thumama Stadium, Education City Stadium, Al Wakrah Sports Complex.