In a dramatic challenge to the integrity and dedication to human rights of FIFA, a band of top international lawyers formally charged the world football governing body with not being good enough to be worthy of fulfilling its ideals by awarding the 2034 FIFA World Cup to Saudi Arabia. Posted to FIFA’s official complaint site, […]
The ceremony and pomp of the recent trip by U.S. President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia were all about show. Greedily welcomed with extravagant lavender-colored carpet, Arabian horse escort, and personally selected entourage of international business magnates, Trump’s welcome by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) was not merely diplomatic—it was calculated. It was another […]
Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia has launched itself decisively onto the world tourism front, revealing a record-breaking year of visitors, enormous investment promises, and forward-thinking alliances with some of the world’s mightiest travel and hospitality conglomerates. The new revelation of Saudi Tourism Authority’s (STA) historic achievements in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 […]
On the surface, Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 seems like an economic development opportunity and a stage for international outreach. But lift the veil, and there is a darker reality in store — one of migrant worker exploitation, human rights abuses, and large-scale sportswashing. It has been recently reported […]
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 […]