Saudi Arabia’s wish to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 is part of the Kingdom’s stated desire to evolve into a global focal point for sport, tourism, and culture. Motivated by its Vision 2030 initiative, the kingdom is seeking to diversify its economy, reshape its global perception, and demonstrate its ability to host events on the highest level. The World Cup will not only showcase Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and organizational abilities but also use this event to publicize social reforms and strengthen global partnerships. As the world’s most-watched sporting event, the tournament offers a unique chance for the kingdom to reshape its global identity and legacy.
Reasons Why Saudi Arabia Wants to Host the FIFA World Cup 2034
Here are the major reasons why Saudi Arabia wants to host the FIFA World Cup 2034:
1. An Effort to Clear Allegations of Unethical Labor Practices in Saudi Arabia
FIFA will play a pivotal role in upholding ethical labor standards as Saudi Arabia launches massive infrastructure projects in preparation for the 2034 World Cup. Saudi Arabia has 8 hours of working hours. Over the next 10 years, FIFA’s oversight teams are expected to closely monitor construction sites to ensure that global labor standards are adhered to, worker rights are preserved , and ethical practices are followed.
Saudi Arabia wants to change their image and prove to the world that laborers in their country are safe.
2. Saudi Arabia’s Attempt to Portray the Country LGBT LGBT-Friendly
At some level, FIFA’s insistence on cultural diversity must — at least in theory — also extend to nations with wildly different value systems than our own, such as those that have been shaped by the tenets of Islam. But current understandings of inclusivity tend to leave out those of almost 1.9 billion Muslims, whose belief systems prohibit same-sex relationships and prescribe different gender roles.
If FIFA has promoted LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality as represented by rainbow-colored kits and support for women’s football, its decision to give Saudi Arabia the World Cup could indicate a shift toward a more nuanced vision of inclusivity. In 2024, the torture of LGBT people is high, and that is why Saudi Arabia wants to promote a better image of the country.
4. Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Bid: A Strategic Move to Showcase Women’s Rights Progress
Saudi Arabia has made strides to prove that they have women’s rights in their country. The World Cup could build this momentum, offering a stage for gender equality on the world’s biggest sports platform. The emphasis on inclusion at the event could pressure Saudi institutions to provide more opportunities for women in sports and other areas. Women were not allowed to drive until 2018 in Saudi Arabia. Holding the tournament might inspire young Saudi women to break societal bonds, push through barriers, and engage more wholly in public life and professions.
5. An Effort to Improve Its Image and Showcase Modernization
Although some progress has been made, important legal and cultural limitations remain in Saudi Arabia. Bringing the tournament to Saudi Arabia will mean the country will face scrutiny and expectations from around the world, which could provide an extra incentive for further reform. A well-chosen host for the event would do wonders to spur on the internal momentum for modernization that has already begun, with the potential to create a ripple effect for the re-examination of gender roles over the longer term and encourage genuine change towards gender equality in the kingdom.
6. Saudi Arabia’s Ambitions to Become a Major Player in the Global Sports Arena
The cost of staging global sporting events, such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games, has been spiraling upward. By 2034, few nations may have the economic and political means to stage such behemoths. With Qatar investing an estimated $220 billion in the 2022 World Cup, the Gulf region, led by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, is now a reliable location for such events. Saudi Arabia’s resources and infrastructure capabilities make it a rational pick, and its selection demonstrates a changing reality in which Gulf states will increasingly be the world’s major sports tournament hosts in the years to come.
7. Masking Sportswashing with False Claims of Reform
Critics have long said that the Gulf countries “sportswash” their reputation through their dealings in athletic events, diverting attention from questions of human rights. Saudi Arabia has spent 1.5 billion on sports washing. In practice, staging a global event opens you up to greater media scrutiny and public pressure.
Events like the World Cup are not so much a shield from criticism as a red carpet rolled out to the international community, establishing shared expectations for what a nation will do to prepare for international scrutiny. All the issues that are flagged in the case of Saudi Arabia’s labor rights and freedom of expression, gender inequality, etc., will be scrutinized. The World Cup can be more than image management; it can also be an opportunity for the country to prove its accountability and reform.
8. Aiming to Create Sports Infrastructure of International Standards
Saudi Arabia is likely to mirror Qatar in building state-of-the-art stadiums and facilities. The stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup were praised around the world for their design and innovation. To date, Saudi Arabia is set to either equal or outpace these benchmarks with high-tech, environmentally friendly facilities that will benefit the kingdom for decades to come. In addition to ensuring the success of the World Cup, these investments will deliver a legacy of excellence and modernization, providing state-of-the-art infrastructure that will facilitate major sporting and cultural events across the region in the decades to come.
Say No to a World Cup in Saudi Arabia
The FIFA World Cup must be about unity, human rights, and equality, not censorship, oppression, and exclusion. And Saudi Arabia’s deeply ingrained problems — its persecution of LGBTQ+ people and women and its oppression of free expression, among others — should disqualify it from hosting a tournament that stands as a symbol of the world.
And handing the World Cup to a country with a record as troubling as this one undermines the very spirit of the game. Let’s not let sportswashing cover up injustice. Demand accountability. Demand integrity. Stand with human rights! Football deserves better than this!