By Ali Elias
CNN — Amnesty International has called on FIFA to delay awarding Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup until the nation enacts major human rights reforms.
On Monday, Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) released a report citing serious human rights concerns linked to Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup. The report also urged FIFA to establish a “credible human rights strategy” for the 2030 tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
FIFA, the global governing body for soccer, is expected to announce the hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups next month. So far, Saudi Arabia is the sole candidate for the 2034 tournament.
FIFA’s bidding guidelines require countries to respect “internationally recognized human rights,” yet Amnesty International’s latest findings indicate that neither bid has fully shown compliance with these standards. According to the report, “While a more credible human rights strategy is required for the 2030 tournament, the outstanding risks in Saudi Arabia are so severe that FIFA should halt the bidding process for the 2034 tournament until major reforms are introduced.”
FIFA responded to CNN, stating it will release “bid evaluation reports” for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups ahead of its December 11 congress. “FIFA is implementing thorough bidding processes for the 2030 and 2034 editions of the FIFA World Cup, in line with previous processes,” a FIFA spokesperson said, referencing the 2023 Women’s World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the 2026 World Cup in North America, and the 2027 Women’s World Cup planned for Brazil.
Saudi Arabia’s 2034 bid involves extensive infrastructure development, including transport projects, new cities, and the construction or renovation of 11 stadiums, alongside 185,000 new hotel rooms. The Saudi bid website claims that the country is committed to “a human rights approach, leveraging expertise from across the Kingdom and beyond” to deliver the World Cup.
However, Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Labour Rights and Sport, expressed concerns about the plan’s reliance on migrant labor. “There are no commitments to reform the country’s exploitative ‘Kafala’ sponsorship system, establish a minimum wage for non-citizens, permit them to join trade unions, or introduce new measures to prevent worker deaths,” he said.
The “Kafala” system, which ties migrant workers to specific employers, has been widely criticized for enabling abuse, such as wage withholding, passport confiscation, and forced labor. While Saudi Arabia has implemented some labor reforms, Human Rights Watch says employers still retain excessive control over workers.
Cockburn warned, “There will be a real and predictable human cost to awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without obtaining credible guarantees of reform. Fans will face discrimination, residents will be forcibly evicted, migrant workers will face exploitation, and many will die. FIFA must halt the process until proper human rights protections are in place to avoid worsening an already dire situation.”
Amnesty International’s report also raised issues concerning forced evictions tied to new projects, as well as gender discrimination and the criminalization of same-sex relationships in Saudi Arabia. Although the Kingdom has stated that LGBTQ tourists are welcome, homosexuality remains illegal.
Saudi Arabia has previously dismissed accusations of “sportswashing,” a term describing the use of international sports events to improve a nation’s image. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said he doesn’t “care” about the label, and last year, Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal told the BBC that such criticisms are “very shallow.”
Amnesty’s report additionally addressed the upcoming 2030 World Cup, highlighting concerns in host countries Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The tournament is planned to kick off with three matches in South America — Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina — before moving to Europe and North Africa. In Morocco, the report noted, proposed projects may lead to forced evictions, including for a planned 115,000-seat stadium near Casablanca.
Cockburn emphasized, “Morocco, Portugal and Spain must take their human rights responsibilities far more seriously. The 2030 World Cup could provide an opportunity to strengthen human rights protections in all three countries, but only if governments and football associations are prepared to work closely with fans, human rights organizations, trade unions and other impacted groups.”
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) told CNN that its bid aligns with FIFA’s principles and includes a human rights study, which will be part of the final proposal. CNN has also sought comments from football associations in Spain, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.
Source: CNN