Beer giant suffers hangover as World Cup sales take dive

The world’s largest brewer recorded a surprise 0.6pc decline in sales during the final quarter of last year, dashing hopes of higher demand fuelled by the World Cup.

The fall in sales volume for AB Inbev – whose brands include Budweiser, sponsor of the World Cup in Qatar – was much lower than analysts’ forecasts of a 2.8pc uplift.

Beer consumption fell last year amid bad weather in America and China’s zero-covid restrictions, said the Belgian brewing giant.

However, its fourth quarter earnings were buoyed by price increases, sales of premium beers and expansion into low-alcohol drinks. They rose 7.6pc before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.