Saudi Arabia is on the verge of securing the hosting rights for the men’s 2034 World Cup, as the Australian soccer federation decided not to participate in the bidding process, leaving Saudi Arabia as the sole candidate.
FIFA had set a deadline for its member federations in Asia and Oceania to express interest in hosting the tournament, and only Saudi Arabia confirmed its intention to bid.
Australia’s decision not to compete in the bidding process has raised concerns among human rights activists due to allegations that the bidding process favored the oil-rich kingdom. Football Australia announced their decision, stating, “We have explored the opportunity to bid to host the FIFA World Cup and — having taken all factors into consideration — we have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition.”
FIFA still needs to officially approve Saudi Arabia
While FIFA still needs to officially approve Saudi Arabia as the host, it is expected that this will be a formality. This development marks the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to become a major player in global sports, including significant investments in domestic soccer, the acquisition of English soccer club Newcastle, the launch of the LIV Golf tour, and hosting major boxing events.
Critics have accused FIFA of disregarding human rights concerns and facilitating Saudi Arabia’s bid. Saudi Arabia’s sports spending program has been viewed as a form of sportswashing to improve its international image, especially in light of its record on women’s rights and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been associated with efforts to direct the world soccer body’s competitions towards Saudi Arabia. FIFA’s decision to fast-track the 2034 hosting race, with a limited timetable for bidding, further intensified criticism.
Concerns about human rights violations
Saudi Arabia is already set to host the men’s Asian Cup in 2027 and has initiated a widespread construction program to build and renovate stadiums for the World Cup, as FIFA’s bidding requirements include 14 stadiums for the 48-team tournament.
However, concerns about human rights violations, including the treatment of migrant workers and labor conditions, are expected to intensify as Saudi Arabia’s World Cup preparations progress. FIFA has faced criticism for its handling of human rights issues in past World Cup hosting decisions.
FIFA has stated that it will assess the Saudi bid for factors such as event vision, infrastructure, services, commercial aspects, sustainability, and human rights. Human rights organizations are urging FIFA to ensure that hosts comply with human rights policies and to halt the bidding process if serious human rights risks are not addressed adequately.
