FIFA must halt Saudi World Cup bid due to human rights issues, says Amnesty
FIFA must suspend the process of selecting Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup unless the Kingdom implements significant human rights reforms before next month’s vote, Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) have warned.
In a joint statement, the two organizations called on FIFA to address what they described as “severe and widespread” human rights violations that could be exacerbated by the World Cup being hosted in the Gulf nation. According to Amnesty and the SRA’s latest report, neither Saudi Arabia’s bid nor those from other countries met FIFA’s human rights standards, with the risks much higher in the Kingdom.
“There will be a real and predictable human cost to awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without obtaining credible guarantees of reform,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of labor rights and sport. “Fans will face discrimination… migrant workers will face exploitation, and many will die.”
The 2034 World Cup is set to be awarded at FIFA’s extraordinary Congress on December 11, and Saudi Arabia is the only nation to have formally submitted a bid. FIFA has stated that the bid evaluation reports for both the 2030 and 2034 tournaments will be published ahead of the vote, but human rights groups argue that these evaluations do not adequately address the risks involved.
LGBTQ+ rights under scrutiny
A central issue raised by critics is the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex sexual acts can be punishable by death. Hammad Albalawi, head of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid unit, has sought to reassure LGBTQ+ fans, saying in September that they would be welcome and their privacy respected during the tournament. He pointed to the positive experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals attending sporting events in the country in recent years.
However, Amnesty’s report casts doubt on these assurances, warning that discriminatory laws against LGBTQ+ people could not be easily overlooked. “There is no serious commitment to reform on this front,” said Cockburn.
Migrant workers’ rights and safety concerns
Another key issue is the treatment of migrant workers, who would play a crucial role in the construction of World Cup infrastructure, including 15 new or refurbished stadiums and over 185,000 hotel rooms. Saudi Arabia’s bid document promises to implement measures to protect migrant laborers, but Amnesty has highlighted the lack of a minimum wage for foreign workers and concerns over worker safety.
Similar issues were seen in Qatar, where migrant workers were employed in the construction of World Cup infrastructure for the 2022 tournament, with reports of thousands of worker deaths. Although the exact number is disputed, reports suggest that over 6,500 migrant workers died in Qatar during the build-up to the World Cup.
“We are dedicated to upholding our commitments concerning forced labor, child labor, non-discrimination and occupational safety and health,” Saudi Arabia’s bid document asserts. However, critics argue that these commitments lack the necessary transparency and enforcement mechanisms to ensure meaningful change.
Repression of free speech
Amnesty also expressed concerns over Saudi Arabia’s repression of free speech. The organization noted that the government continues to imprison individuals for their expression, and there is little indication that the Kingdom is committed to addressing this issue.
“Saudi Arabia’s human rights strategy does not address the government’s severe repression of free speech and the continued imprisonment of individuals who have been sentenced to decades in prison merely for their expression,” Cockburn said.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions in recent years to reshape its image from a country known for strict religious laws and human rights abuses to one that promotes tourism and entertainment. Despite these efforts, the Kingdom’s recent failed bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council further underscores the challenges it faces in improving its international reputation.
As FIFA prepares for its vote on the 2034 World Cup host, human rights groups are calling on the organization to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its record. “FIFA must halt the process until proper human rights protections are in place to avoid worsening an already dire situation,” Cockburn concluded.
