Saudi Arabia has been in the headlines over the past few weeks for signing a mutual defense agreement with Pakistan, a nuclear power, in response to the first-ever Israeli air attack on a Gulf nation. This precipitous action taken without advance consultation with its American partners has created shock waves of unease in Washington and beyond.
The agreement underscores both Saudi Arabia’s increasing discomfort with US security guarantees and the terrifying unpredictability of the Middle East. Such geopolitical unrest is not only a portent of shifting powers but also a grim reminder of why Saudi Arabia is a severely flawed option to stage the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
A tournament that must represent peace, harmony, and security could be overshadowed by militarization, regional insecurity, and a regime that consistently violates the very same values FIFA purports to stand for.
Saudi Arabia’s Pact with Pakistan: A Signal of Instability
The Saudi–Pakistani defense agreement was signed in the wake of an unprecedented Israeli air raid in the Gulf, on Hamas negotiators in Qatar. For Saudi Arabia, the agreement is a hedge against vulnerability and an effort to create an alternative security umbrella. But it also sends a disturbing signal: The Gulf is not secure, alliances are in flux, and Saudi Arabia is willing to deepen military alliances rather than seek diplomacy.
If even American guarantees cannot shield the Gulf from mounting dangers, how will FIFA guarantee the safety of millions of spectators, players, and personnel in 2034? Organizing a World Cup in a state actively gearing up for possible military confrontation threatens to make football’s biggest event a geopolitical hotbed.
Regional Conflict: A Threat to Global Sports
The Israeli air strike in Qatar was not an isolated event. It represented the breakdown of long-standing red lines and set off alarms at Israeli expansionism run amok. As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced his troops were engaged “on seven fronts,” Gulf leaders saw the balance in the region draining away.
The World Cup demands stability, cooperation, and safety for fans traveling from around the world. But Saudi Arabia is in an area where airstrikes, drone attacks, and missile threats have become more and more frequent.
- In 2019, Saudi oil facilities were hit by Houthi drones, and production was cut in half.
- In 2022, the UAE was attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels with missiles and drones.
- In 2023, Israel went further by bombing the Gulf territory itself.
Such instability cannot promise FIFA a safe setting for the world’s largest sporting event.
Human Rights Failures Cannot Be Ignored
Whereas the new defense agreement presents outward threats, Saudi domestic policies increase anxiety. Saudi border guards have murdered hundreds of Ethiopian asylum seekers and migrants since 2022, Human Rights Watch reports. During 2023 alone, the nation conducted 172 executions, most on account of nonviolent crimes. Freedom House rates Saudi Arabia “Not Free,” noting severe limitations on expression, assembly, and political rights.
Migrant laborers — who will be critical to constructing stadiums, hotels, and transportation infrastructure — are entrapped by the kafala sponsorship system. They are thus open to forced labor, delayed payment, and degrading housing. FIFA was roundly criticized around the world during the 2022 Qatar World Cup for such abuses, and Saudi Arabia is making little effort to reform its system. Granting the 2034 tournament here indicates that FIFA cares more about finance and authority than about human dignity.
Sportswashing in The Context of Militarization
Saudi Arabia has invested billions in the sports space — from Formula 1 to LIV Golf — as part of a bid to sweeten its international image. Hosting the World Cup in 2034 is the pinnacle of this effort. However, the timing of the defense agreement with Pakistan demonstrates that Saudi Arabia is not spreading peace or harmony; it is militarizing in response to threats in the region.
The World Cup can be hijacked as a political instrument, an exhibition of Saudi Arabian might, and an apology for its oppression at home. Far from celebrating diversity, the tournament might turn out to be a propaganda stage for a regime that is involved in geopolitical rivalries.
FIFA’s Responsibility and Hypocrisy
FIFA’s own policy on human rights demands host countries comply with international norms on freedom, non-discrimination, and labor rights. By bestowing 2034 on Saudi Arabia, however, FIFA has once again disregarded its rules. Saudi Arabia’s election has already been cautioned against by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for lacking transparency and enforceable human rights assurances. Unless FIFA reverses course, it will become complicit in sportswashing and lose credibility among fans across the globe. Main contradictions are:
- FIFA’s Statutes: Emphasize peace and openness, but Saudi Arabia practices censorship and discrimination.
- FIFA’s Human Rights Policy: Demands labor rights, but Saudi Arabia’s kafala system places workers in virtual slavery.
- FIFA’s Image: Purports to be neutral, sparking accusations of complicity in Saudi Arabia’s deployment of sport as political propaganda.
Safety, Climate, and Practical Challenges
Beyond politics and rights, Saudi Arabia faces practical obstacles. Temperatures soar above 45°C in summer, forcing FIFA to again reschedule the tournament to winter months — disrupting global leagues. Security risks remain high given Saudi Arabia’s location in a volatile neighborhood. Healthcare and emergency response systems would need massive investment to handle millions of visitors under such conditions.
While the Saudi-Pakistani defense agreement portends a future in which military tensions may ignite unpredictably at any moment, if safety concerns fanned, the whole point of the World Cup — uniting people — is lost.
Demand Accountability or Boycott Saudi 2034
The Saudi–Pakistani defense agreement, concluded in the face of increasing instability following an Israeli airstrike in the Gulf, underscores a troubling fact: the area is unsettled, armed to the teeth, and not suitable for hosting a world celebration of peace. Combined with Saudi Arabia’s track record of mass executions, mistreatment of migrant workers, and curtailment of freedoms, FIFA’s decision is untenable.
Football is not a game — it is a symbol of humanity, peace, and unity. We cannot allow it to be used for whitewashing authoritarianism, nor should it be used in a bid to normalize militarization. Join the campaign to boycott Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup and safeguard the integrity of the game we love.