Freedom & human rights

FIFA Backs Saudi World Cup Bid

NOV 30 2024·Updated DEC 1 2024

Story

Above: The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed on a plinth at Toronto Island on Aug. 22, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. Image credit: Cole Burston/Contributor/FIFA via Getty Images

The Facts

Saudi Arabia received FIFA's highest-ever technical evaluation score of 4.2 out of 5 for its 2034 World Cup bid, surpassing the USA-Canada-Mexico 2026 bid score of 4.0.
The Guardian
The New York Times
The bid includes plans for 15 stadiums, including the 92,760-seat King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh. The venues will not be completed until 2032, but three new stadiums are expected to be finished in January 2027.
FOX News
Reuters
After an assessment by law firm Clifford Chance, FIFA classified Saudi Arabia's human rights situation as "medium risk," acknowledging there had been a commitment to "respecting, protecting and fulfilling internationally recognized human rights in connection with the competition."
Daily Mail
Metro
Due to the oil-rich nation's climate, where temperatures can exceed 40°C in summer, a winter schedule similar to Qatar 2022 appears likely.
FOX News
Daily Mail
Saudi Arabia emerged as the sole bidder for 2034 after FIFA's continental rotation rules excluded other regions following the 2030 World Cup award to Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
The New York Times
The final decision will be made at the FIFA Congress on Dec. 11, where member associations will vote on both the 2030 and 2034 World Cup hosts. Saudi Arabia already hosts Formula 1 races and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour Finals.
Barrons

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The World Cup presents a significant opportunity to catalyze positive reforms in Saudi Arabia. The government has committed to protecting internationally recognized human rights, including labor rights, gender equality, and press freedom. The decade-long preparation period provides ample time to implement meaningful changes and deliver world-class infrastructure.

Saudigazette

Narrative B

The FIFA evaluation is an astonishing whitewash of Saudi Arabia's human rights record, lacking meaningful commitments to prevent worker exploitation, forced evictions, and activist arrests. The tournament will inevitably be tarnished by exploitation, discrimination, and repression without fundamental human rights reforms.

Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch