As global resistance to Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup intensifies, this page delivers up-to-date reports, campaign developments, and in-depth analysis from the heart of the movement. From grassroots mobilizations and athlete advocacy to political reactions and international endorsements, Campaign News documents the growing opposition to FIFA’s controversial decision and highlights the voices demanding change.
Since the official announcement in late 2023 that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup, a powerful coalition of activists, football fans, human rights organizations, and journalists has formed under the banner of #BoycottSaudi2034. The campaign rapidly spread across continents, uniting diverse communities concerned about the integrity of global football, human rights abuses, and the rise of authoritarian sportswashing.
In March 2024, the campaign went viral after the hashtag #BoycottSaudi2034 trended globally on social media, generating over 10 million impressions in just one week. Since then, thousands of supporters have joined local chapters, signed petitions, and contributed to a rapidly growing online and offline presence challenging FIFA’s complicity.
Cities like London, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, and Oslo have witnessed organized protests outside FIFA offices, national football associations, and sponsor headquarters. In many of these demonstrations, activists have displayed banners with slogans such as “No Cup for Repression”, “Stop Sportswashing”, and “FIFA: Human Rights, Not Oil Money.”
In Spain and Italy, youth-led coalitions have coordinated marches and sit-ins outside the headquarters of La Liga and Serie A, urging clubs and governing bodies to take a stand. In Sweden and Norway, players’ unions have issued open letters to FIFA, warning that participation without reforms would violate basic ethical standards.
What makes the Boycott Saudi 2034 campaign particularly powerful is the support it has received from within the football community. Former Manchester United player Gary Neville called the decision to award Saudi Arabia the World Cup “deeply irresponsible,” pointing to the kingdom’s criminalization of LGBTQ+ identities and suppression of dissent.
Other football personalities, including Megan Rapinoe, Eric Cantona, and Juan Mata, have echoed similar concerns. Cantona, in a widely shared video, said:
“Football must be a celebration of freedom, not a billboard for dictators.”
These high-profile endorsements have helped expand the campaign’s media coverage, compelling journalists to scrutinize FIFA’s actions more critically and amplifying calls for accountability.
Major human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House, have issued detailed reports outlining why Saudi Arabia is an unsuitable host for the World Cup. These documents have been used in official complaints submitted to FIFA’s governance committee and its Human Rights Advisory Board.
A joint letter signed by over 150 NGOs was sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in April 2024, demanding that hosting rights be suspended unless Saudi Arabia meets clear benchmarks for freedom of expression, gender equality, press freedom, and labor protections.
FIFA’s failure to respond substantively has only intensified criticism, with many accusing the organization of double standards and gross hypocrisy in its human rights rhetoric.
The campaign isn’t limited to politics and protests. Artists, musicians, and digital creators have taken the lead in spreading the message through creative means. From street murals in Buenos Aires to viral TikToks mocking FIFA’s greenwashing campaigns, the movement has inspired a wave of cultural activism.
A short documentary titled “The Price of the Cup” premiered at the 2024 Berlin Human Rights Film Festival, offering a powerful exposé on Saudi Arabia’s record of repression and FIFA’s ethical failures. It has since been screened in over 20 countries, with online views surpassing half a million.
Meanwhile, independent podcasts and YouTube channels dedicated to football ethics, such as The Football Disruptors and Goal for Justice, are consistently covering the boycott campaign, helping it gain traction among younger fans disillusioned with the sport’s corporatization.
One of the central pillars of the campaign is the defense of women’s rights. Saudi Arabia’s discriminatory laws and its continued persecution of women’s rights activists have made the World Cup decision particularly painful for global feminist movements.
Boycott organizers have partnered with groups like Equality Now and Women’s Link Worldwide to raise awareness about gender-based repression in Saudi Arabia. In June 2024, a global digital action — #NoCupWithoutEquality — saw over 200,000 people share stories and visuals calling for a feminist vision of football that includes all genders and sexualities.
The LGBTQ+ community has emerged as a vocal and visible force in the boycott movement. Groups like AllOut and ILGA-Europe have been instrumental in pressuring sponsors and national teams to demand guarantees from Saudi authorities regarding fan safety, freedom of expression, and anti-discrimination protections.
Several Pride organizations in the UK, Canada, and Australia have formally called on their national football federations to withdraw from the tournament unless legal protections for LGBTQ+ fans and players are secured — a condition unlikely to be met under the current Saudi penal code.
One of the most strategic angles of the campaign has been targeting FIFA sponsors. Protesters and digital activists have launched boycotts against major brands affiliated with the 2034 tournament, including Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Visa.
Campaigners have flooded sponsor social media pages with messages urging them to cut ties with Saudi Arabia’s World Cup. Online petitions calling for corporate divestment have collectively garnered over one million signatures, and some smaller sponsors have already distanced themselves from the event.
Politicians in multiple democracies have begun to weigh in. In the European Parliament, MEPs from the Greens, Social Democrats, and Left groups have jointly tabled resolutions condemning the Saudi World Cup and demanding that FIFA undergo independent oversight. In Canada, MPs have called for a parliamentary inquiry into the country’s potential involvement.
The German Bundestag’s human rights committee issued a formal recommendation in May 2024 urging the German Football Association (DFB) to publicly oppose the 2034 tournament unless conditions improve. Similar parliamentary motions are under discussion in Australia, Norway, and Belgium.
The Boycott Saudi 2034 campaign is not a moment — it’s a movement. It is growing stronger, more organized, and more visible by the day. As FIFA pushes forward with preparations, campaigners around the world are preparing for a long fight — one that will span from boardrooms to stadiums to social media feeds.
As pressure mounts, the message is clear: Football must not be used to whitewash authoritarianism. Whether through civil disobedience, creative resistance, or legal action, the movement will continue until human rights are prioritized over profit.
This Campaign News section will continue to update you with verified developments, action alerts, interviews, and breaking coverage from all corners of the Boycott Saudi 2034 movement. Be sure to bookmark this page, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletter.
Together, we can hold FIFA accountable. Together, we can demand that football lives up to its promise of inclusivity, freedom, and justice.