International lawyers recently delivered a 22-page document to FIFA headquarters in Zurich urging the organization to scrutinize Saudi Arabia’s human rights record before selecting the kingdom to host the men’s 2034 World Cup. The lawyers, Mark Pieth and Stefan Wehrenberg of Switzerland, along with British barrister Rodney Dixon, offered to work with FIFA on an action plan and monitoring of Saudi Arabia by independent experts. They emphasized the need for Saudi Arabia to comply with international human rights standards, which FIFA’s own policy has required of tournament hosts since 2017.
The lawyers cited Saudi Arabia’s record on freedom of expression and assembly, treatment of prisoners and migrant workers, and male guardianship laws that limit personal freedoms for women. Saudi Arabia has been undergoing rapid changes as part of the Vision 2030 program to modernize the kingdom’s economy and society, driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Hosting sports and entertainment events is key to the program’s goals of reducing dependence on oil riches. Saudi Arabia is the only candidate to host the 2034 World Cup in a fast-track process initiated by FIFA in October.
By brokering a three-continent, six-nation co-hosting deal for the 2030 tournament, FIFA has effectively cleared a path for Saudi Arabia to host the following edition without facing a rival bid. The Saudi bid must be submitted by July and is set to be confirmed on December 11 in an online vote by FIFA’s 211 member federations. The lawyers are urging FIFA to use the leverage it has with the bid to ensure compliance with the human rights standards outlined in FIFA’s policy drafted by Harvard University professor John Ruggie seven years ago.
The lawyers expressed their willingness to engage constructively with FIFA to ensure that the minimum human rights requirements are achieved in Saudi Arabia. Key reforms in FIFA, such as term limits for senior officials, are now in retreat, and the organization has resisted putting independent outsiders on its ruling committee. The lawyers highlighted the need for real, credible experts and independence in any FIFA-backed monitoring group for Saudi Arabia, rather than relying on state-backed organizations like the Saudi Human Rights Commission. FIFA had previously embedded human rights assessments of tournament bidders in response to controversies surrounding the selection of Qatar as the 2022 World Cup host.
The lawyers emphasized the importance of FIFA upholding its own standards and respecting human rights in all activities related to the bidding for and hosting of tournaments. They urged FIFA to ensure the independence of any monitoring group for Saudi Arabia, including experts from victims groups, NGOs, UN agencies, international unions, and civil society organizations. FIFA’s close ties to Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, built under President Gianni Infantino, have raised concerns about the organization’s commitment to human rights. The lawyers’ submission to FIFA was written on behalf of individuals suffering from serious violations of their basic human rights and freedoms by Saudi Arabia.
