Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, stated on Saturday that despite the stadiums’ ban on beer sales, World Cup fans could go three hours without it each day.
“I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he told his opening press conference in Doha. “The same applies in France, Spain, Scotland.”
Just 48 hours before Sunday’s match, World Cup officials abruptly reversed course on Friday and banned beer sales near stadiums in Qatar.
Alcohol is largely prohibited in the Islamic nation but the organisers sparked fury from fans with their dramatic late decision.
Football’s world governing body FIFA said beer would not be sold to fans around any of the eight World Cup stadiums following discussions with the hosts.
It said beer sales would be focused on fan zones and licensed venues, “removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.”
It gave no reason for the surprise decision but media reports said there had been an intervention by Qatar’s ruling family.
Dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up on the grounds ahead of the first game.