In a surprising move, two prominent US Senators have publicly called on FIFA to reject Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup. The oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdom has been positioning itself as the sole contender for the 2034 tournament, but Senators Ron Wyden and Dick Durbin argue that Saudi Arabia’s troubling human rights record should disqualify it from hosting the world’s biggest sporting event.
Concerns Over Saudi Human Rights Abuses
In a letter addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the Democratic Senators pulled no punches in condemning Saudi Arabia’s treatment of dissidents, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and migrant workers. They wrote:
Approving Saudi Arabia’s bid this December endangers workers, athletes, tourists, and members of the press, and it runs counter to FIFA’s own human rights policies. The kingdom continues to torture dissidents, engage in extrajudicial killings, discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, oppress women and religious minorities, exploit and abuse foreign workers, and restrict almost all political rights and civil liberties.
These accusations echo long-standing criticisms leveled at the Saudi regime by human rights organizations and the broader international community. Despite recent reforms pushed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, such as allowing women to drive and loosening male guardianship laws, Saudi Arabia’s overall human rights situation remains dire.
A Questionable Bidding Process
Adding to the controversy is the apparently tailor-made nature of FIFA’s expedited bidding process for 2034, which many observers believe was designed to guarantee Saudi Arabia as the host. The Senators noted that the desert nation would need to construct a staggering 15 new stadiums in just a decade – an undertaking fraught with risks of labor exploitation similar to those documented in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA’s own commissioned human rights assessment of the Saudi bid, conducted by law firm Clifford Chance, has been widely panned as a toothless whitewash lacking true independence or rigor. As Wyden and Durbin put it:
More concerningly, the Saudis have failed to address how they will uphold labor protections, press freedoms, non-discrimination and inclusion standards. We strongly urge FIFA to take all steps necessary to thoroughly re-evaluate Saudi Arabia’s ill-equipped World Cup bid ahead of December and select a rights-respecting host country.
FIFA’s Cozy Ties with Saudi Arabia
Complicating matters further are the increasingly chummy relations between FIFA President Infantino and the Saudi leadership, symbolized by the high-profile sponsorship deal inked earlier this year with state oil giant Aramco. This has fueled suspicions that FIFA is willing to overlook the kingdom’s egregious rights record in exchange for financial benefits and an uncontested host.
For FIFA, the US Senators’ appeal presents an uncomfortable dilemma. Rejecting the Saudi bid would mean admitting its own flawed process and risking lucrative Middle Eastern support. Yet moving forward risks a massive public backlash and boycott calls over what many see as blatant sportswashing of Saudi abuses.
The Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game
Ultimately, this controversy lays bare the stark tension between the lofty ideals of international sports and the messy realpolitik that often governs them behind closed doors. By hitching its wagon so tightly to the Saudi bid, FIFA has maneuvered itself into an ethical quagmire with no easy escape.
As December’s host decision draws near, the world will be watching closely to see if the beautiful game’s governing body can rise above politics and avarice to uphold the human rights and fair play it so often preaches. The ball is in FIFA’s court, but with billions of dollars and geopolitical influence on the line, the odds of a red card for the Saudi bid appear slim.
One thing is clear: the 2034 World Cup bidding war has exposed the ugly underbelly of the world’s most beloved tournament. Regardless of where the games are ultimately staged, the stain of this sordid affair will linger on the sport for years to come. For fans who believe in football’s power to unite and inspire, that may be the bitterest blow of all.
