With the world slowly moving toward the much-awaited Saudi 2034 FIFA World Cup, the international discourse is already heading in the direction of the grand show that is to be staged. But under the shine and beauty of cutting-edge stadiums and assurances of future cities, a harrowing truth necessitates a responsible and effective boycott of this tournament.
Recent events in Saudi Arabia’s aggressive move into international manufacturing, as reported in global media, tell a greater tale of exploitation, human rights violations, environmental degradation, and strategic utilization of international crises to cover up internal failures. The very same policies and priorities driving Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Cup are the same that risk making global inequalities and injustices worse.
Saudi Arabia’s “Made in Saudi” Strategy: A Manufactured Facade
In reaction to the US-China trade war and retaliatory tariffs by then-US President Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia has become a so-called “haven” for world manufacturers seeking to escape high import tariffs. Its “Vision 2030” master plan is rapidly seeking to diversify its economy, attracting multinational behemoths such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, and even Apple suppliers with the offer of tax breaks, tremendous natural resources, and a strategic geographic position connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. This is a savvy economic move. However, it’s essential to recognize the human and environmental costs of this pivot:
1. Vast State Financing with No Accountability:
The government of Saudi Arabia is pouring more than $100 billion into projects such as Alat, a high-technology manufacturing project linked to controversial players such as Japan’s Softbank Group. Such deals are not transparent and have involved failed promises and hyperbole. The Never Neom group, an activist coalition, has correctly observed that such “ambitious investment announcements” are largely linked to foreign deals and projects on the drawing board.
2. Exploitation of Migrant Labor:
Migrant workers, frequently shortchanged, overworked, and exposed to atrocious living conditions, form the core of Saudi Arabia’s industrial growth. The kafala system, which binds workers’ legal rights to their sponsors, makes them easy targets for abuse and functionally places them in a modern form of indentured servitude. An estimated 21,000 migrant workers have died since the start of construction on NEOM, a flagship megaproject under Vision 2030.
3 .Environmental Degradation and Climate Risks:
Saudi Arabia’s drive towards an industrial transformation is against the background of how disproportionately climate change is hitting the Gulf countries. The nation’s pursuit of gigantic construction and energy-hungry industries further adds to environmental degradation. The irony is that the country that is leading in the evangelization of futuristic “green” metropolises like Neom is doubling down on carbon-fueled growth models at the expense of sustainability.
The World Cup as a Smokescreen for Systemic Failures
The Saudi government’s pursuit of the World Cup is less about athletics, more about politics. It is a highly calculated attempt to sugarcoat its national and global reputation. While “Made in Saudi” has been touted as an antidote to international trade tensions, the World Cup is a PR strategy aimed at:
Deflect from Human Rights Abuses
From the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to the ongoing persecution of women’s rights activists and the quashing of dissent, Saudi Arabia has a thoroughly documented record of human rights abuses. Having a high-profile sporting event serves as an easy distraction, enabling the Kingdom to present a veneer of modernity and advancement while quieting criticism. Migrant workers constitute 42% of the population but face widespread labor abuses, including forced labor, exploitation, and poor living conditions.
Mask Economic Vulnerabilities
Whilst Saudi Arabia presents itself as an attractive place for international manufacturing and investment, the truth is much more vulnerable. Falling oil revenues, higher domestic taxation, and volatile global economic conditions risk sabotaging the Kingdom’s big plans. As David Butter of Chatham House suggests, “higher international tariffs and a potential trade war would still undercut any gains” Saudi Arabia might hope to make. The World Cup is an ephemeral spectacle to cover up these systemic fissures.
Ethical Manufacturing or Greenwashing?
Let us not be deceived by the promise of Saudi Arabia’s high-tech assembly lines and robotic factories. These buildings are being constructed on the backs of abused workers, facilitated by weak labor protection and powered by the government’s transactional strategy of global politics. Keep these points in mind:
1. Global Trade Shifts Favor Profiteers, Not People:
With tariffs on China, Vietnam, and Thailand increasing, multinationals are shifting operations to low-tariff Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia. But this has nothing to do with fair jobs or sustainable development—it has to do with getting more profits by taking advantage of cheap labor and lax regulations.
2. A Dubious Economic Model:
Vision 2030’s dependence on showy investments and partnerships, frequently not happening or plagued with delays, constitutes a bubble economy. As noted by critics such as Frederic Schneider, several of the projects in question, such as drone taxis and Hyperloop systems, have either been scrapped or substantially downsized. Will these empty promises form the basis for an equitable and just society?
3. Environmental and Social Costs:
Expansion by the Kingdom into manufacturing and grand construction projects contributes directly to environmental degradation. In combination with increasing temperatures, shortages of water, and geopolitical tensions, this model is a disaster for the local citizenry and amplifies worldwide climate threats. About 98% of Saudi Arabia’s land is desert, making desertification a severe problem. There is a lack of rainfall while the temperature is high.
Say No to Exploitation: Boycott the Saudi 2034 FIFA World Cup
The Saudi 2034 FIFA World Cup is not merely another sports event—it’s a masterfully built facade meant to legitimize a regime that is heavily immersed in human rights violations, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation. From “Made in Saudi” to Vision 2030, the same factors that propel the Kingdom’s ambitious global manufacturing plans are pushing its candidacy for hosting the world’s most viewed sporting spectacle.
We have to resist. We have to call for justice. And we have to stand in solidarity with those paying the price for Saudi Arabia’s aspiration. Boycott. Make your voice heard. And let the world know that human dignity is more valuable than a game of football.