Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

Budweiser Just Raised The Stakes At The World Cup & You Might Get A Free Beer Out Of It

Someone needs to drink all those unsold Buds!

Players with a Team Canada Budweiser shirt. Right: Cases of unsold beer in Qatar.

Players with a Team Canada Budweiser shirt. Right: Cases of unsold beer in Qatar.

Interim Deputy Editor (News)

If you live in a country with a team at the World Cup, then Budweiser just gave you another reason to cheer on your squad.

The beer maker says it's come up with a new plan for the huge stockpile of beer that it sent to Qatar after the country suddenly banned the sale of alcohol in stadiums ahead of the big FIFA tournament.

With all that beer just sitting there, Budweiser now says it will send the stockpile to whichever country comes out on top at the World Cup.

"Winning Country gets the Buds," Budweiser recently said after Qatar announced its last-minute alcohol ban. The tweet also included a photo of a warehouse full of cases of Budweiser.

It's unclear exactly how much beer Budweiser sent to Qatar. However, the company is reportedly asking FIFA for a $47-million partial refund on what it paid to get exclusive rights to the tournament.

That's a lot of money in lost beer sales, and potentially a lot of beer that they'll soon be giving away.

Qatar had initially agreed to allow beer sales at World Cup matches, but it suddenly reversed course ahead of the November 20 kickoff, leaving fans and Budweiser in an awkward spot.

FIFA and Qatar announced on November 18 that beer would only be sold at its fan festivals and not in the stadiums themselves. Non-alcoholic Bud Zero is still being sold in stadiums.

As for all those unsold alcoholic beers, Budweiser has yet to reveal a full plan for how it will send them to the tournament winner.

It might be tough to distribute all that beer across a large country like the United States or Canada, even though those nations are a long shot to win.

An easier plan might be to simply hand out beers during whatever party the winners throw when they go back to their home country with the trophy.

Whatever the plan, the stakes are now even higher for the World Cup final match on December 18!

Explore this list   👀

    • Interim Deputy Editor, News

      Josh Elliott (he/him) was the Interim Deputy Editor (News) for Narcity, where he led the talented editorial team's local news content. Josh previously led Narcity’s international coverage and he spent several years as a writer for CTV and Global News in the past. He earned his English degree from York University and his MA in journalism from Western University. Superhero content is his kryptonite.
    Advertisement Content

    You could score FIFA World Cup 26™ tickets just by stocking up on Dove Men+Care deodorants

    Stay fresh with Dove Men+Care deodorants and you might just find yourself in the stands next summer.

    Advertisement Content

    How Guinness lit up Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2025 with pride, music & foam selfies (PHOTOS)

    It may have been born in Ireland, but the iconic stout has many homes.

    Sponsored Content

    9 festivals you could hit up if you win the ultimate Canadian music festival experience

    The $15K prize includes tickets, travel and more to a festival of your choice.

    Advertisement Content

    The world's largest bartending competition is taking over Toronto with epic parties & cocktails

    You can sip on creations shaken up by world-class bartenders from countries all around the world.

    The Marineland from your childhood is dead: Inside the grim reality of what's left behind

    Recent drone footage from the semi-abandoned site shows the animals who've been left behind.