In June 2025, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia, announced the launch of direct flights between Riyadh and Moscow beginning October 1, 2025. The news, reported across the Gulf region, may have appeared routine — just another expansion of global travel routes. But in reality, this announcement represents a much deeper and more alarming development: the strengthening of ties between two authoritarian regimes with abysmal human rights records and anti-democratic agendas. Saudi Arabia’s growing closeness with Russia adds yet another urgent reason to oppose its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
A Surge in Travel — and a Political Statement
According to Russian government data, the number of Saudi visitors to Russia surged from just 9,300 in 2023 to 52,400 in 2024 — a staggering 570% increase. That momentum has carried into 2025, with Moscow recording a 50% rise in Saudi visitors in just the first half of the year. This exponential growth has been attributed to Russia’s rollout of a streamlined e-visa program for Saudi nationals, allowing easy access and approval for travel.
Now, Saudia has moved quickly to capitalize on this trend, launching three weekly flights between Riyadh and Moscow. While the airline frames this development as a boost for tourism and convenience, the truth is far more complex. This move signals not just economic cooperation, but a strategic alliance — one that reflects deeper cultural, political, and diplomatic ties beThe world must recognize what’s at stake.
The World Cup is not just a tournament; it is a global celebration of unity, fair competition, and peace. When a country like Saudi Arabia, known for systemic repression, censorship, and violations of basic human rights, is given the privilege to host such a prestigious event, the values of global sport are deeply compromised. But when that same country is also forging stronger ties with Russia — a nation under international sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine and crackdown on internal dissent — the warning signs become too loud to ignore.
The Saudi-Russian Nexus: A Dangerous Alliance
Both Saudi Arabia and Russia have long histories of repressing dissent, undermining press freedom, and silencing critics. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, illegal annexation of Crimea, and persecution of opposition voices like Alexei Navalny have isolated it from much of the Western world. Yet, instead of standing with the global community in holding Russia accountable, Saudi Arabia is strengthening its relationship with Moscow.
This alliance should concern every FIFA official, football fan, and human rights advocate. If Saudi Arabia is willing to embrace Russia at a time when the world condemns its actions, what message does that send about the values it will bring to the global stage as host of the 2034 World Cup?
Sportswashing in Action
Saudi Arabia has made it no secret that it is using sports to rehabilitate its global image — a practice widely known as “sportswashing.” From investing billions into football clubs, boxing, golf, and Formula 1, to bidding for the World Cup, the kingdom is engaged in a comprehensive campaign to distract from its human rights record by projecting an image of modernity and openness.
But that image is a façade. Behind the gleaming stadiums and celebrity endorsements lies a government responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the imprisonment of women’s rights activists, and the mass execution of political dissidents. Migrant workers still face exploitation, freedom of speech is virtually nonexistent, and LGBTQ+ individuals live in fear of persecution.
Now, with its embrace of Russia through direct air links and growing diplomatic cooperation, Saudi Arabia is signaling to the world that its priorities are aligned not with progress and democracy, but with autocracy and control.
The World Cup Must Be Earned — Not Bought
FIFA has long claimed that the World Cup is more than just a sporting event — it is a force for good, a global celebration that brings people together across cultures, ideologies, and borders. But giving Saudi Arabia the hosting rights for 2034 sends the exact opposite message. It tells the world that money, influence, and propaganda matter more than principles, ethics, or the lived realities of oppressed people.
By allowing Saudi Arabia to host the World Cup, FIFA is effectively endorsing a country that not only tramples on basic human rights but now chooses to align itself with a nation responsible for one of the most brutal and illegal wars in modern history.
Undermining Global Unity
The decision to strengthen ties with Russia undermines international efforts to isolate and pressure Moscow into ending its aggression in Ukraine. While much of the world imposes sanctions, supports Ukrainian sovereignty, and condemns the Kremlin’s war crimes, Saudi Arabia offers warm economic ties and now — direct, state-sponsored travel routes.
This is not neutrality — it is complicity.
Hosting the World Cup should require a demonstrated commitment to peace, inclusivity, and respect for international norms. Saudi Arabia fails that test spectacularly.
A Moment for Moral Courage
The global football community — players, fans, clubs, sponsors, and national federations — must show moral courage. It is not enough to celebrate beautiful goals and thrilling matches if they are staged atop the suffering and silence of those who have no voice. We must ask: What does it say about FIFA, and the world, if we let a regime like Saudi Arabia host the planet’s most cherished sporting event?
FIFA needs to re-examine its decision. Governments must voice their disapproval. Fans must speak up. And activists must continue to shine a light on the realities behind Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing agenda. The time for silence is over.
Say No to Saudi FIA World Cup 2034
We are at a crossroads. Saudi Arabia’s direct flights to Moscow may seem like a minor logistical development, but they are, in fact, a symbolic gesture of loyalty between two nations that reject democratic values and human rights. If the World Cup is held in Riyadh, it will not be a celebration of football — it will be a celebration of state-sponsored repression and international complicity.
FIFA must not let that happen. It’s time to demand a reversal of the 2034 hosting decision. The integrity of football — and the credibility of FIFA — depends on it.