What's happened
FIFA's evaluation of Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup has deemed it medium risk for human rights and low risk for environmental impact. Despite concerns from Amnesty International regarding labor rights, the bid is set to be rubberstamped at the FIFA Congress on December 11, 2024.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, FIFA's evaluation report awarded Saudi Arabia a record score, despite warnings from Amnesty International about potential migrant worker exploitation. Amnesty's Steve Cockburn stated, 'FIFA has effectively discarded its human rights policies to achieve this end.' In contrast, AP News highlighted the financial ties between FIFA and Saudi Arabia, noting that FIFA signed a sponsorship deal with Aramco worth $400 million, indicating a deeper financial relationship. This juxtaposition illustrates the conflicting narratives surrounding the bid, with human rights advocates warning of exploitation while FIFA emphasizes economic opportunities.
How we got here
Saudi Arabia has been the sole candidate for the 2034 World Cup since FIFA opened a fast-track nomination process in October 2023. The bid has raised significant concerns regarding human rights and labor conditions, echoing issues faced during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
More on these topics
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Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
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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.
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Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, colloquially known as MBS, is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. He is currently serving as the country's deputy prime minister and is also Chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, Chairman of
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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.
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Ronald Lee Wyden is an American politician who is currently serving as the senior United States Senator for Oregon, a seat he has held since 1996.
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Richard Joseph Durbin is an American attorney and politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Illinois, a seat he was first elected to in 1996.
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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.
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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.