The news that the 2034 FIFA World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia has unleashed an international outcry amongst football fans, human rights campaigns, and global civil society. Behind the mind-boggling stadium photos and promises of global-standard infrastructure lurks an exceedingly sinister reality: Saudi Arabia’s World Cup proposal is not playing up the game […]
Over the past few years, FIFA has been at the forefront of climate action and sustainability as a positive force through football worldwide. But when Saudi Arabia took over the rights to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the questions were genuine: Can a country with questionable environmental transparency, weak eco-journalism, and questionable accountability host […]
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 […]
FIFA loves money and that’s not new; it has shown itself for decades. In giving Saudi Arabia the men’ football World Cup due in 2034, it is again putting profit before principle. If we really care about the soul of football, if we care about the rights of millions, act — act now — and […]
When FIFA officially announced that Saudi Arabia would be hosting the 2034 World Cup, it wasn’t exactly a shock. The news had been long-awaited, not only due to the kingdom’s deep pockets or FIFA’s growing close relationship with authoritarian regimes, but because nobody else bid. Nevertheless, the consequences are extensive. For the second time, football’s […]
Saudi Arabia has among the strictest rates of execution in the world, and foreign nationals often comprise a large proportion of those who receive the death penalty. The kingdom applies hard-line interpretations of Sharia law, calling for the death penalty for offenses like murder, drug trafficking and even sorcery. But concerns have been raised about the fairness […]
The Football Association (FA) has been warned internally not to protest at a meeting on Wednesday at which Saudi Arabia is likely to be awarded the 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The warning has a clear caveat — if the FA wants to contest Saudi Arabia’s choice as a host, it has to be prepared not to […]
When FIFA awarded Saudi Arabia the hosting rights to the 2034 World Cup, it wasn’t just another tournament announcement — it was a symbol of just how low the sport’s governing body is willing to stoop in exchange for power and profit. Some countries may decide to be silent, but New Zealand Football has the moral responsibility […]
FIFA officially made the decision to award Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup, which has sparked a firestorm of debate and criticism. Some see it as a potential catalyst for change, while others view it as a stark contradiction to FIFA’s professed commitment to human rights. Saudi Arabia was the only formal bidder after the AFC […]
Saudi Arabia, a country that is increasingly casting itself as a modern, global power — from hosting major sport to directing mega-development projects — is now facing damning claims of very serious human rights abuses. Ethiopian migrants attempting to enter Saudi Arabia from Yemen between 2019 and 2024 have described harrowing experiences, including mass killings, rape, […]