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, […]
The case of Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi, a poet and activist who was extradited on January 8, 2025, from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has left serious implications for human rights experts and advocates globally. His case is a reflection of a larger human rights crisis in the Gulf region, where Saudi Arabia is frequently singled […]
With the world eagerly awaiting FIFA 34, conversation is well underway as to where this coveted tournament should take place. In recent years, Saudi Arabia, a country with a long history of gender inequality and blatant human rights abuses, has expressed an interest in hosting major sporting events. Although the timing of the World Cup is still […]
In this bold step, Saudi Arabia has initiated an unprecedented nationwide effort to crack down on prostitution and begging. The campaign has drawn international scrutiny amid claims that it will address issues of human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable populations. While the government says the campaign is motivated by a desire to remind people of Islamic […]
With attention now shifting to the FIFA World Cup in 2034, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the frontrunner to stage the global roadshow. The Kingdom has spent big on building new infrastructure and revamping its tourism industry to give such glitzy events a reason to visit, but more entrenched problems tied to its human rights record […]