New Delhi: Saudi Arabia is set to stage winter World Cup in 2034 after FIFA evaluation report approved its human rights record. The confirmation followed the release of a comprehensive 110-page report conducted by FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom, which assessed the kingdom’s readiness to host football’s grandest event.
The report conducted by FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom has awarded the country an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5, effectively eliminating any significant obstacles for the only candidate bidding the tournament ahead of their official crowning as hosts on 11 December at the FIFA Congress. Then, Saudi will be the second Middle Eastern nation to host the tournament after Qatar in 2022.
FIFA’s historic evaluation: Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid achieves the highest technical score in FIFA’s history. #Saudi2034bid #GrowingTogether pic.twitter.com/eE9drOLXv1
— CIC Saudi Arabia (@CICSaudi) November 30, 2024
FIFA clarified that the rating does not evaluate Saudi Arabia’s “general human rights context” but focuses on its commitment to addressing specific human rights issues connected to the tournament. These include labor rights, children’s rights, gender equality, disability rights, and press freedom. This marks a significant milestone for the Kingdom, but the move has reignited accusations of sportswashing—a deliberate strategy to distract from its widely criticized human rights record.
Sportswashing controversy
FIFA acknowledged the heightened risks associated with Saudi Arabia’s human rights record but emphasized the potential for “positive human rights impact” through hosting the event. Nevertheless, critics remain skeptical. Amnesty International condemned the evaluation, calling it bold and underlined “an astonishing whitewash” of Saudi Arabia’s broader human rights issues, including the controversial Kafala sponsorship system that ties migrant workers to their employers.
Amnesty International rightly said FIFA’s evaluation of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid is an astonishing whitewash of the country’s atrocious human rights record. However, much like the controversies surrounding Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, doubts persist over whether these commitments will result in meaningful change. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s close ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have only fueled allegations of complicity in legitimizing an authoritarian regime through football.
Earlier, Riyadh also hosted elite golf and tennis matches, and the sudden extreme involvement of the country in sports has raised eyebrows over time and continues. Additionally, Saudi clubs have signed several high-profile football players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and many others.
From a financial perspective, FIFA’s inspection report highlighted the bid’s bold and underlined “strong commercial position,” supported by a “substantial hospitality footprint.”
FIFA has capped 25% of tickets for corporate hospitality packages across stadiums, which will range in capacity from 46,000 to 92,000 seats. The centerpiece of the tournament will be the King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, set to host the final match.
In April, FIFA secured a World Cup sponsorship deal with Saudi oil giant Aramco which was criticised by football players. The additional agreements is expected to follow on the announcement day December 11. This includes sponsorships for the Club World Cup, set to relaunch next June in the United States.
More than 100 women’s footballers have signed an open letter urging Fifa to drop the Saudi oil giant Aramco as a sponsor ✍#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/cdGBifN7io
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 21, 2024
Other concerns…
The November-December slot for a 48-team World Cup for about 38 days would be difficult for Riyadh as they are also hosting multisport Asian Games in the initial two weeks of December and the holy month of Ramadan will run from mid-November to mid-December.
Another clash will be the 2034 Winter Olympics being hosted in two weeks in February by Salt Lake City, Utah. There is speculation that Saudi Arabia might eventually share some of the 104 matches with neighboring states and emirates.
What next?
The next 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the 2030 centennial edition, the tournament will be spread across Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with additional games played in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Following the approval of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, Riyadh will be awarded the 2034 World Cup in December, and preparations for the tournament will officially begin.
Saudi Arabia wins 2034 FIFA World Cup bid, sparking controversy. Critics allege sportswashing while FIFA highlights economic benefits and potential human rights impact. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
