While the world gears up for the 2034 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, beneath the tony adverts and plans for megastadiums lies a darker truth—one of systemic abandonment, institutional inequality, and the failure to protect the most vulnerable. Until the Kingdom places a value on the safety, dignity, and equality of all visitors—not just the wealthy or powerful—it should not be allowed to host the world’s most unifying event.
A Deadly Pilgrimage: Seven Umrah Pilgrims Killed
Just a few days back, seven Pakistani Umrah pilgrims, four of them children, were martyred in a horrific road accident in Saudi Arabia. The innocent victims were from Dagai Khudokhel in Buner and had traveled only 11 days before completing a sacred religious duty. Their journey ended in tragedy.
According to the World Health Organization, Saudi Arabia experiences 27.4 road traffic deaths per 100,000 population, which is way higher than the world average of 18.2. It is therefore one of the most dangerous countries to drive in, especially for the pilgrims who are not conversant with local conditions.
Adding to that, five other members of the same family were left gravely injured. While funeral prayers were said in Saudi Arabia, the impact of the trauma inflicted on this family will be remembered for generations to come. It’s not the first of such kind, nor will it be the last, given the worst record of transport safety in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj 2025: Pakistani Lives Lost Again
Again, tragedy hit Hajj 2025, where 18 Pakistani pilgrims lost their lives—10 males and 8 females, who were all elderly. Although Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj makes claims of better management, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs also confirmed the deaths, giving reasons as heart attacks, heatstroke, and other related health complications.
In a country where temperatures during Hajj often soar above 50°C (122°F), even basic cooling measures become a matter of life or death. According to Al Jazeera, in 2024, over 1,300 pilgrims died—most due to extreme heat. That year, Pakistan recorded 35 pilgrim deaths during Hajj. Despite Saudi Arabia’s investment in cooling technologies, deaths continue to occur:
- In 2015, over 2,400 pilgrims died in a stampede near Mina—the deadliest Hajj tragedy in history.
- Since 2006–2024, over 7,700 pilgrims have lost their lives in Hajj and Umrah, independent human rights organizations estimate.
These numbers are unacceptable for a country that bills itself as a safe host to millions of visitors.
FIFA 2034 and the Illusion of Capability
Saudi Arabia boasts of its successful Hajj management to warrant it hosting of international sporting events. But the unremitting massacre of pilgrims—particularly those from countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria—tells a different story.
- 1,673,230 pilgrims made Hajj in 2025.
- 1,506,576 were foreign pilgrims from 171 countries.
- 166,654 were local pilgrims.
- Regardless of historic attendance, the deaths and accidents caused by heat persist.
If Saudi Arabia is unable to provide safe infrastructure, adequate emergency services, or crowd control for Hajj pilgrims—how on earth is it going to provide for millions of football supporters, journalists, LGBTQ+ visitors, and human rights activists?
A Tale of Two Pilgrimages: Who Receives Assistance?
Saudi Arabia’s treatment of pilgrims is an extension of a deep-seated class and racial bias. Wealthy Western pilgrims get VIP treatment and immediate medical care, while South Asian and African pilgrims are always ignored. The same would happen at the World Cup:
- Special ticketing packages are already on the cards for rich nations.
- VIP stadium seats and luxury suites come first, followed by accessible fan areas and security.
This is not just economic injustice—it is a political philosophy in which value is defined by privilege and nationality, not human rights.
FIFA’s Facilitation of Sportswashing
FIFA’s granting the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia is full of sportswashing—the use of sport to clean up the international image of a nation. This is not new:
Qatar 2022 was condemned for the murder of 6,500 migrant workers from South Asia.
Saudi Arabia is more extreme, with a documented history of:
- Arbitrary imprisonment of critics and activists
- Segregation of the sexes and restrictions on women
- Restraint of religious liberty
- Zero tolerance of LGBTQ+ rights
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and many other monitors have repeatedly ranked Saudi Arabia high on the worst abusers of civil liberties and freedom of the press lists.
Tragedies Ignored: Where’s the Justice?
Nobody has been made accountable in public for the thousands of pilgrims who died in Saudi Arabia. There are condolences and a burial in Jannatul Baqi from the government, but no public investigation, no global criticism, and no bereavement compensation programs to cover families’ loss.
- A Global Call to Boycott
- FIFA to revoke Saudi Arabia’s hosting rights.
- Governments like Pakistan to make the regime own up to the missing pilgrims.
- Human rights groups continue documenting Saudi sportswashing.
- Fans and players need to boycott Saudi-hosted matches and refuse to play in a tournament based on suffering.
Alternatives Exist
There are several football-loving nations with:
- Secure infrastructure
- Democratic values
- Crisis management experience
Awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia and disregarding the killing of innocent pilgrims, including children, is not only immoral—it’s against the values FIFA claims to stand for.
No World Cup Without Justice
The story of the Buner family—seven killed, five injured, and a shattered community—can never be ignored. They represent the faces of the many more who silently endured the ineptitude of Saudi Arabia’s systems. Their tragedy must be our wake-up call.