Rio de Janeiro: Brazil fought hard when FIFA insisted it overturn its ban on alcohol in stadiums, but the World Cup hosts lost, and with the tournament now under way it's official: beer is back.


A Brazilian fan, wearing a mask, drinks beer outside the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo ahead of World Cup opener on Thursday. Pic/AFP 

After 11 years of stadium sobriety, FIFA and its sponsor Budweiser celebrated the suspension of Brazil's law against alcohol sales at matches — a bid to stop crowd violence — by pouring thousands of cold ones for fans at Thursday's opening game in Sao Paulo.