World Cup Fans face big payment problem:

Fans face big payment problem

Fans not eating, drinking or using FIFA World Cup sponsored products in Qatar face going hungry and thirsty, due to the absolute blanket ban on other branding in official tournament sites.

In recent days security guards have been removing labels from drinks bottles for media and staff working at the tournament - if they are not World Cup sponsors. But the biggest issue in Doha is the payment method being demanded.

Visa, one of FIFA’s main sponsors in Qatar is the only accepted method of payment at World Cup sites including stadiums and fan zones.



While Mastercard is a bigger and more widely used payment processing company people cannot pay for food, drink or anything else at the World Cup using it. And transactions are card only. No cash.


If fans are in stadiums or fan zones without a Visa card, they will not be able to purchase anything.

The importance of its sponsors to FIFA has already come under strain this week with the Qatari royal family demanding a total ban of alcohol at stadiums. Budweiser, another sponsor, is the only alcoholic drink available at FIFA sites and will have paid a premium for the privilege.

This is standard practice for fifa and IOC at Olympics... when we had a game for the Olympics there was a blanket ban of selling anything to do with olympics within a mile of stadium! And only Visa was allowed at 1st .. this taunement is quickly turning into a mess for fans.

Costco doesn't accept Mastercard or Discover in their stores but they accept just about anything online. I've learnt the hard way to carry at least one of each.

Costco does accept MasterCard,I paid with one yesterday down leckwith ?

Costco does accept MasterCard,I paid with one yesterday down leckwith ?

Funny that they accept it in the UK but not the USA where I live.

They didn't used too a fair few years ago