Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid labelled ‘Medium Risk’ for human rights
Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup has been flagged as “medium risk” for human rights concerns by FIFA, according to the governing body’s evaluation report released on Saturday.
The report, which comes ahead of FIFA’s Congress on December 11, highlighted the substantial effort required to implement reforms in the conservative kingdom. FIFA’s Congress is expected to confirm hosts for both the 2030 and 2034 tournaments during the session.
Saudi Arabia remains the lone candidate for the 2034 edition, while Morocco, Spain, and Portugal have joined forces for the 2030 tournament, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay set to host a match each to mark the centenary of the competition.
FIFA praised Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and commercial potential, giving the bid an overall score of 4.2 out of 5 — surpassing the joint United States, Canada, and Mexico bid for the 2026 World Cup. However, the report also flagged significant human rights challenges, stating that necessary reforms “could involve significant effort and time.”
The report added, “The bid involves significant opportunities for positive human rights impact. The tournament could catalyse ongoing and future reforms, contributing to positive outcomes beyond the event itself.”
Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has faced criticism, particularly around mass executions, allegations of torture, and restrictions on women’s freedoms under the male guardianship system. Freedom of expression is also severely curtailed, with individuals receiving harsh sentences for social media posts critical of the government.
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Rights groups have accused the kingdom of using sports as a “sportswashing” tool to distract from these issues, citing its hosting of high-profile events such as Formula One races and tennis tournaments.
FIFA acknowledged these challenges but maintained that the World Cup could inspire reforms. “There is good potential that the tournament could serve as a catalyst for some of the ongoing and future reforms,” the report noted.
Despite its ambitious plans, Saudi Arabia has yet to construct several proposed stadiums for the tournament. Officials have also hinted that the event could follow Qatar’s lead in hosting the competition during winter to avoid extreme summer heat.
The evaluation comes as FIFA continues to grapple with criticism over the 2022 World Cup in neighbouring Qatar, where human rights issues dominated headlines. Analysts suggest the 2034 edition could reignite similar debates if Saudi Arabia secures hosting rights.
Saudi Arabia remains focused on transforming its global image through sports, but the upcoming FIFA Congress will determine whether these efforts align with the organisation’s values.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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