The sale of alcoholic beverages in and around the 22nd FIFA World Cup has been banned, and Qatar’s ability to host large-scale international events has attracted attention

The 22nd FIFA World Cup kicked off on Sunday (November 20) evening local time in the capital Doha. On 17 November, people gathered around the official countdown clock for the opening ceremony of the Worl

FIFA‘s sudden announcement on the eve of the Qatar World Cup that the ban on the sale of beer to fans in eight venues and surrounding areas has aroused concern and heated discussions, and Qatar’s ability to host major international competitions has once again raised questions.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off Sunday in Doha, Qatar’s capital, with the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador. But just 48 hours before the start of the match, FIFA issued a statement on Friday saying that after “discussions” with host Qatar, all eight World Cup venues and surrounding areas would ban the sale of alcoholic beverages, causing confusion and dissatisfaction among some teams and a large number of fans.

FIFA has previously said that during the World Cup in Qatar, fans can buy beer in specific areas, including around the stadium area of World Cup matches, but beer will not be served in stadium stands and halls. FIFA’s previous rules also state that fans can buy beer within three hours of each match and within an hour after the match, but not during the match. This change of decision on the eve of the start of the game surprised many people.

Qatar is an Islamic country with strict alcohol control, and it is illegal to drink alcohol in public. Whether fans can buy and drink beer has been a contentious and concerned issue since Qatar won the right to host the World Cup.

Reuters reported that since Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2010, there has been a continuing controversy over whether Qatar is suitable to host the tournament, including criticism of Qatar’s labor rights and harsh laws. The upcoming World Cup is also a test of Qatar’s ability to host major international events.

The 22nd FIFA World Cup will be played on Sunday (November 20) in Doha, the capital of Qatar. On Saturday (19 November), two women are restocking a vending machine placed in the fan area.

“It is clear to me: choosing Qatar is a mistake, a bad choice,” Reuters quoted former FIFA president Sepp Blatter as saying last week.

World Cups are usually held in the summer when clubs and leagues are in the air, but with summer temperatures in Qatar exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, it is clear that athletes can hardly keep running in such heat. FIFA therefore conducted field trips and studies in 2014 and 2015 respectively, and concluded that the tournament could not be held in June and July, so it postponed the match to November and December.

Qatar has also seen a lot of controversy over the construction of the venues, especially over labor rights. According to media reports, thousands of foreign workers have died or been treated badly during the construction of the venues. Qatar has had to amend its labor laws to quell global grievances and outcry.

In addition, Qatar’s discrimination or suppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, as well as Islamic laws regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages, have repeatedly caused an uproar.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly last September, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, pledged that the Qatari government would welcome everyone from the world without discrimination.

Qatar is only the second country in its history to never get a World Cup ticket to become a World Cup host. In the second World Cup in 1934, the hosts Italy had not reached the World Cup final in the previous tournament.

To avoid the embarrassment of being eliminated in the first round of the World Cup, the Qatari football team has been carefully preparing for several years, and it seems that it has also been reborn.

Qatar first hired famed Spanish coach Felix Sanchez for its soccer team in 2017. Sanchez’s expertise in football and knowledge of the Middle East have trained Qatar to become a powerhouse in Asia, winning not only the 2019 Asian Cup, but all matches, including a 3-1 victory over Asia’s toughest Japan.

In order to train their troops, the Qatari football team went to participate in the Copa America football tournament before 2019, and was defeated by Colombia and Argentina in the group stage, only to draw with Paraguay.

The Qatari football team went to the America’s Gold Cup last year for training, not only finishing first in the group stage, but also defeating El Salvador in the quarterfinals, only to lose 0:1 to the United States in the semifinals.

After the World Cup kicked off on Sunday, Qatar’s soccer team is under intense pressure from domestic fans to expect them to do well. In order to ensure that the Qatari football team members concentrate on preparing for the World Cup, the Qatar Football Association has banned the national team members from participating in Qatari football club competitions since this season.