Eleventh-hour U-turn on beer sales sparks fresh controversy at World Cup

A Budweiser beer stand at 'Fan Festival' ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Picture: Claudio Villa/Getty Images

The most-watched sporting event on the planet, hailed as the 'Greatest Show on Earth', kicks off tomorrow under a shadow of shame — from human rights abuses to environmental contempt — and now organisers have further angered fans 48 hours before the opening match.

A last-minute decision to ban beer sales around World Cup venues in Qatar has raised the prospect of a major legal challenge from brewing giant, Budweiser, which has a $75m sponsorship agreement with Fifa.