Amnesty International Urges FIFA to Halt Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup Bid

Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) have called on FIFA to suspend Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup unless significant human rights reforms are implemented before the vote scheduled for December 11, Reuters reported yesterday.

Their report criticized both Saudi Arabia and the combined bid of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal for the 2030 World Cup, stating that neither adequately addressed FIFA’s human rights standards.

Amnesty’s head of labour rights and sport, Steve Cockburn, warned of severe human rights violations if the tournament is awarded to Saudi Arabia, highlighting potential discrimination against fans and exploitation of migrant workers. FIFA has stated that it will publish bid evaluation reports prior to the Congress, emphasizing its commitment to thorough bidding processes. With no competing bids for 2034, Saudi Arabia’s selection appears imminent, raising concerns over the implications for human rights in the region.