What's happened
FIFA has officially awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over human rights issues, particularly regarding migrant workers and LGBTQ+ rights. The decision has sparked criticism from human rights organizations and EU lawmakers, questioning the transparency of the bidding process and the implications for social change in the kingdom.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Guardian's Max Rushden highlights the podcast discussion on FIFA's decision, questioning the transparency of the bidding process and the implications for migrant workers and LGBTQ+ rights. Politico reports on a letter from 30 EU lawmakers expressing grave concerns about the decision, emphasizing Saudi Arabia's human rights record. The Independent discusses the mixed reactions from football associations and the assurances given to the English FA regarding fan safety. Amnesty International's Steve Cockburn criticizes FIFA's decision as reckless, stating it risks lives without adequate protections in place. Overall, there is a consensus among sources that the decision raises significant ethical questions about FIFA's priorities and the potential consequences for human rights in Saudi Arabia.
How we got here
The decision to host the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia follows FIFA's recent pattern of awarding major tournaments to countries with controversial human rights records. This decision comes after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which faced similar scrutiny over labor practices and human rights violations.
More on these topics
-
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
-
FIFA is a non-profit organization which describes itself as an international governing body of association football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. It is the highest governing body of football.
-
Giovanni Vincenzo "Gianni" Infantino is a Swiss–Italian football administrator and the current president of FIFA. He was elected President of FIFA during the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016.
-
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in the United Kingdom focused on human rights. The organization says it has more than eight million members and supporters around the world.
-
Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
-
The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be the 25th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, as it was the only country to submit