Saudi Arabia human rights record under fire after winning 2034 World Cup bid

Amnesty International lashes out at FIFA for awarding Saudi Arabia the organization of the 2034 men’s soccer World Cup, claiming the move will put lives at risk amid criticism of the country’s human rights record.

“FIFA’s reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections are in place will put many lives at risk,” Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Labour Rights and Sport, says in a statement issued by 21 bodies.

Among those who co-signed the statement were Saudi diaspora human rights organizations, migrant workers’ groups from Nepal and Kenya, international trade unions, fans’ representatives and global human rights organizations.

“Based on clear evidence to date, FIFA knows workers will be exploited and even die without fundamental reforms in Saudi Arabia, and yet has chosen to press ahead regardless,” he writes. “The organization risks bearing a heavy responsibility for many of the human rights abuses that will follow.”

Lina Alhathloul, Head of Monitoring and Advocacy, ALQST for Human Rights, a Saudi diaspora human rights organization, says the awarding of the World Cup to Saudi Arabia is “disheartening.”

“Now it’s happened, urgent and sustained action is needed to mitigate the grave risks of labor and civil rights violations associated with the tournament, including by securing major and credible reforms,” she says in the joint statement.

In a separate statement, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre says that one stadium already under construction for the tournament has been linked to alleged exploitative labor of 10-hour shifts in extreme heat.

“FIFA, its sponsors, and multinational companies likely already eyeing up lucrative infrastructure contracts have a legal and ethical responsibility to respect human rights. Particularly those of the most vulnerable migrant workers…” Phil Bloomer, Executive Director of BHRRC says.

Saudi Arabia denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.