The Washington Centre for Human Rights expresses deep concerns regarding the ongoing process to select Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. It condemns the lack of adequate human rights protections in the current bidding process and urges FIFA to halt the approval of Saudi Arabia’s bid unless major reforms are announced before the vote next month.
The Washington Centre for Human Rights, in alignment with international organizations like Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA), highlights the severe risks posed by Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The selection of the Gulf nation as a host would potentially lead to widespread and severe human rights violations. It is particularly concerned about the safety and rights of fans, workers, and marginalized groups under the current regime. The human rights strategy outlined in Saudi Arabia’s bid fails to provide sufficient guarantees for meaningful reforms, exposing the tournament to substantial risks that could significantly harm the international reputation of FIFA.
There is significant concern over the treatment of migrant workers, whose labor is crucial for the infrastructure development required for the World Cup. With 15 new or refurbished stadiums planned and additional accommodations for over 185,000 hotel rooms, the Washington Centre fears that Saudi Arabia will once again exploit migrant workers, as witnessed in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Saudi Arabia’s failure to introduce a minimum wage for foreign workers and its lack of measures to prevent worker deaths raises alarms. Moreover, FIFA’s inability to address these issues during the selection process puts the welfare of vulnerable populations at risk.
LGBTQ+ rights also remain a major concern. In Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is punishable by death, and while Saudi officials have stated that LGBTQ+ fans will be respected, there is no clear evidence of significant progress toward the legal and social acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in the country. The Washington Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns any attempts to present Saudi Arabia as a progressive nation in terms of human rights, especially when its legal framework still discriminates against individuals based on their sexual orientation.
Further, Saudi Arabia’s bid does not address the repression of free speech within the country. The regime continues to imprison individuals for simply expressing dissent or criticism of the government, a fact that remains unacknowledged in their bid documentation. This repression undermines the global values of free expression and democracy that the FIFA World Cup symbolizes. For this reason, the Washington Centre urges FIFA to take these critical human rights concerns into account before making a final decision.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s image transformation efforts, which aim to present the country as a hub for tourism and entertainment, are overshadowed by its failure to address fundamental human rights issues. While the country invests billions in public relations and international events, such efforts cannot conceal the ongoing human rights abuses that continue to define the nation’s internal policies. The Washington Centre for Human Rights believes that FIFA should not overlook these issues when selecting a host nation.
The global community, including FIFA, must demand more from nations seeking to host major international events like the World Cup. Saudi Arabia’s human rights record presents an undeniable challenge to its eligibility, and the risks associated with awarding it the tournament without significant reforms would set a dangerous precedent. The Washington Centre for Human Rights stands firmly against the selection of Saudi Arabia unless credible reforms are implemented and guaranteed before the FIFA vote next month.
In conclusion, FIFA must suspend the process of awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia until there is clear evidence of substantial and effective human rights reforms. The Washington Centre for Human Rights calls on FIFA to prioritize human dignity, safety, and equality for all individuals, including migrant workers and LGBTQ+ fans, when selecting future World Cup hosts. The absence of such reforms would be a betrayal of the values that the tournament is meant to uphold and would exacerbate existing human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.