A group of law and human rights experts along with Saudi activists abroad are urging FIFA to allow independent scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s human rights obligations as the country is set to host the 2034 World Cup. They are calling for ongoing reviews and a potential termination clause to be included in the hosting contract. The advisors want FIFA president Gianni Infantino to learn from the mistakes made in the selection of Qatar as the host for the 2022 World Cup, where little thought was given to legal safeguards and reputational challenges.
The briefing in FIFA’s home city of Zurich came after the UN General Assembly rejected Saudi Arabia’s bid for a seat on the Human Rights Council. The advisers pointed to Saudi Arabia’s record on freedom of speech and assembly, as well as laws on labor and male guardianship that restrict women’s freedoms. FIFA had previously demanded a human rights strategy from future World Cup hosts, but the focus was more on activities related to bidding and hosting rather than broader societal rights.
Saudi plans for the World Cup include a review of its human rights strategy by lawyers chosen by the kingdom, as well as 15 stadium projects. Human Rights Watch researcher Joey Shea highlighted grave labor violations against migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, where they make up about 40% of the population. The scale of construction needed for the World Cup raises concerns about potential labor abuses, especially considering the limited access for rights groups to operate in the country.
Saudi soccer officials claim that the nation is making progress on social reforms as part of the Vision 2030 drive by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to modernize and diversify the economy. However, critics argue that the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia has worsened under bin Salman’s leadership. The country’s ranking on gender issues is low, with many laws that prejudice women still in place. FIFA is currently evaluating World Cup bidders, with reports expected in early December.
FIFA has not held a news conference on World Cup bids since the fast-tracking of the 2034 edition toward Saudi Arabia one year ago. The upcoming decision on the host for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups will be made by more than 200 FIFA member federations at an online meeting on December 11. The possibility of European opposition to the Saudi bid could also impact Spain and Portugal’s joint bid for the 2030 tournament. Human rights experts are calling on FIFA to ensure that the minimum requirements for human rights are upheld if Saudi Arabia is awarded the 2034 World Cup.
