With various teams flocking into Qatar for the imminent 2022 FIFA World Cup, two nations have arrived in the Gulf state with two tons worth of meat.
Argentina and Uruguay, who are ranked third and 14th respectively by FIFA, landed in Qatar with one ton of meat each in order to give their players a taste of home.
Albiceleste touched down in the capital Doha on Thursday following an emphatic 5-0 win in a warm-up match against the United Arab on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Their South American neighbours, who also used the UAE as their training base before departing to the host nation, confirmed that it was for the nourishment of their players.
The National Institute of Meat (INAC) and the Uruguay FA (AUF) reached an agreement earlier this month to supply the meat for the squad at the tournament.
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"The national team is being accompanied by the best nourishment," AUF president Ignacio Alonso told Medios Publicos. "The AUF is a historic ambassador of our country and will take with it another ambassador, which is Uruguayan meat, the best meat in the world."
INAC president Conrado Ferber said: "The mate [special tea], the asado [meat] and football go together in Uruguay and are part of our culture.
"We want to convey the quality of the product, natural and sustainable, and the World Cup is the optimal time to do so."
Meanwhile Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni explaned how the asado brings the team together.
"My favourite food is the asado, but it's more than that," Scaloni told reporters, according to ESPN.
"It creates an atmosphere of union and collective chemistry. It's part of our culture, of the Argentine idiosyncrasy.
"It's during that time that we get to talk, to laugh, relax and connect. It's not necessarily about the meat, although we love it. It's to be part of a group and the connection that it generates."
Argentina are two-time world champions, although their triumphs came more than 35 years ago in 1986 and 1978. Meanwhile, Uruguay are also just one of the eight nations to have won the tournament, with two titles in 1930 and 1950.
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