On December 11, 2024, FIFA confirmed one of the most politically charged decisions in sports history: Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This announcement arrived with no competing bids, marking a significant moment as the Middle Eastern country extends its influence on the global sports stage. While FIFA's choice could herald advancements for Saudi Arabia, it has simultaneously ignited fierce backlash over the kingdom's human rights record.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) and numerous global rights groups are among those voicing their concerns. Michael Page, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at HRW, expressed apprehension over the “unimaginable human cost” associated with hosting such a monumental event within Saudi borders. Activists have raised alarms about the potential exploitation of migrant workers tasked with building the necessary infrastructure—an endeavor believed to require extensive construction, including renovating 11 stadiums and creating 185,000 hotel rooms.
Saudi Arabia’s World Cup aspirations are positioned within the broader frame of its Vision 2030 initiative, aimed at diversifying the economy beyond oil dependency. This initiative, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has propelled the kingdom's investment wave across various sectors, including sports. Saudi Arabia has recently gained headlines for acquiring the English Premier League team Newcastle United. The nation’s sports investment aims to craft a legacy rooted within the world's most popular sport.
Yet, the concern from rights groups does not merely focus on the scale of construction. Many migrant workers are still entangled within the “kafala” sponsorship system, tethering them to specific employers and opening avenues to widespread abuse, HRW warned. This system often leads to nonpayment of wages, recruitment fees, and other exploitative practices.
FIFA's evaluation report on Saudi Arabia's bid, carried out by the law firm AS&H Clifford Chance, controversially judged human rights risks as “medium.” The report has sparked skepticism, with critics questioning the integrity of the assessment due to the absence of independent human rights organizations involved. Critics argue this raises the alarming potential of normalizing sportswashing—a term used when regimes use high-profile events to clean up tarnished reputations.
Allegations about human rights violations span far beyond labor abuses. They encompass discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ individuals as well as the suppression of free expression. Lina al-Hathloul, head of monitoring at the advocacy group ALQST for Human Rights, underscored the severity of the situation, remarking, “Saudi Arabia is a pure police state.” Her personal experiences amplify her warnings, detailing how her sister has been imprisoned for advocating women’s rights.
This year alone, Saudi Arabia has faced unprecedented levels of state executions. It has left many advocates questioning the long-term ramifications of hosting the World Cup, especially considering the amplification of those human rights abuses during the event.
FIFA's decision raises several queries: Can sportsmanship rewrite the narrative of favorable human rights practices? Or, does awarding Saudi Arabia this prestigious event merely serve to endorse status quo human rights abuses both during build-up and the event itself? These unanswered questions speak volumes as observers anticipate the prospects of both the World Cup and potential societal change within the kingdom.
Despite the tensions brewing around this landmark event, Saudi leaders are enthusiastic about its potential impact on their international standing. They aim to use the World Cup as leverage to spotlight the breadth of their economic transformation, attracting tourism and investment on new fronts.
Multiple reports forecast the upcoming World Cup means more than just sports. It is seen as Saudi’s opportunity to showcase hospitality and sporting prowess, aiming to cast aside the shadows of past behaviors. Hosting the World Cup may offer Saudi Arabia the distinct chance to project images of progress and modernity to the world.
With the countdown now officially underway for the World Cup set for mid-2034, the calls for accountability and human rights reform grow louder. Observers are urging FIFA to hold the Saudis accountable before allowing this event to transpire under the eyes of the world.
Yet, with the multi-billion dollar investments and promises of infrastructure improvements surging, how will FIFA and Saudi Arabia navigate these turbulent waters? The evolution of this narrative will undoubtedly evolve as the clock ticks toward the grand event—a showdown not only of athletic talent but of societal values and principles.
Activists, workers, and ordinary citizens alike now hold their breath, waiting to see how the stage unfurls. The foundations of the 2034 World Cup could very well determine more than the future of soccer, but the future of human rights itself, both within Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Human rights organizations continue to implore FIFA to utilize their platforms to instigate real and meaningful change within Saudi Arabia. Until such promises are made and observed, the skepticism surrounding this monumental decision may not fade.
For now, it remains to be seen if the transformative potential of the World Cup can transcend the longstanding issues of rights abuses and become a genuine catalyst for positive change within the kingdom. What echoes throughout the sporting world as preparations advance echoes with both excitement and deep-seated concern.
