Pressure mounts on FIFA as as they gear up to announce Saudi Arabia as host of 2034 World Cup

The imminent announcement of Saudi Arabia as 2034 FIFA World Cup hosts has been overshadowed by concerns regarding human rights violations in the country.

Saudi Arabia is all set to be officially announced as 2034 FIFA World Cup hosts on Wednesday. AP

Pressure is mounting on FIFA, world football’s governing body, ahead of the official announcement of Saudi Arabia being confirmed as official hosts for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This comes amid concerns regarding human rights, with an Amnesty and Sports and Rights Alliance report warning that Saudi Arabia hosting the tournament in 2034 could lead to “severe and widespread” violations. Saudi Arabia’s treatment of migrant workers, mainly from Asia and Africa, has been criticised.

Saudi Arabia has more than 10 million migrant workers residing in the country, and a large number of them work in the hospitality and construction sectors, which are crucial for the build-up of the FIFA World Cup in 10 years’ time. Humanitarian groups have reported that these migrant workers have faced safety issues and unpaid wages among several other aspects.

What will happen on Wednesday (11 December)?

FIFA is set to host a special congress in Zurich from 3 pm local time (1300 GMT) and its 211 member federations will attend remotely online. The closed-door meeting at FIFA headquarters should be streamed live on its website.

The 37-member FIFA council, including Saudi federation president Yasser al Misehal, will meet on Tuesday and should advise to approve both bids.

Confirming the 2030 and 2034 hosts should be done in a combined decision by acclamation rather than a registered vote. FIFA published each member’s choice in June 2018 in Moscow when the United States, Canada, and Mexico won the 2026 World Cup hosting vote 134-65 against Morocco.

The Saudi bid team said in a statement “as a nation that loves football it is expected that fans across the entire kingdom will naturally take to the streets and celebrate this historic moment if their country is confirmed as hosts.”

What was the FIFA process to bid and win?

These World Cup hosting contests happened gradually and then suddenly. In June 2018, days after losing to the financially strong North American bid, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI announced his nation would seek the 2030 World Cup. Most expected it would be Europe’s turn.

Soon, Spain’s government invited Morocco — separated by about 14 kilometers (10 miles) of sea — into its expected bid with Portugal. The project has survived a brief flirtation in 2022 with war-torn Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia worked in 2022, with what seemed to be Infantino’s diplomatic help, on an unlikely 2030 co-hosting bid with Egypt and Greece or Italy that was unacceptable to European soccer body UEFA.

When FIFA’s council eventually met to discuss World Cup bidding, the Spain-led bid now had South American partners. The bigger picture deal was letting Infantino open a 2034 contest only Asia and Oceania members could enter within four weeks. The Asian football body quickly backed Saudi Arabia, and Australia’s interest was soon quashed.

How have the projects been explained?

Hardly at all, apart from mandatory documents published by FIFA and basic campaign websites. There was no launch event in Zurich. No project exhibitions at the FIFA congress in May in Thailand. Bid plans were handed to FIFA behind closed doors in Paris during the Olympics.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been criticised for his stance on human rights issue. Reuters

FIFA’s Infantino has held no press conference and taken no questions during the 15-month process. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin also has not spoken publicly about the double-award agreement.

An era of blockbuster bid contests, globe-trotting campaigns and dramatic votes to host a World Cup or Olympics has ended.

What does the 2030 bid propose?

The world’s biggest football venue — the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca — is among 24 stadiums offered including 11 in Spain, three in Portugal and six in Morocco.

Morocco wants to host the 21 July final. Spain offers the home stadiums of Barcelona and Real Madrid. The longest World Cup should start with the three games in South America on 8-9 June. The tournament would resume on 13 June.

What does the 2034 bid propose?

Saudi Arabia offers 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight venues in Jeddah, four in Riyadh, plus Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though it could yet become a World Cup for the Middle East region. The diplomatic coup for FIFA and Saudi Arabia would be involving Israel one day.

Standout questions

Who will build the Saudi stadiums and World Cup infrastructure of new and upgraded hotels, airports, transport networks — and in what conditions? Will legal protections for migrant workers be enacted or enforced?

There is skepticism FIFA and Saudi Arabia will prevent a repeat of labour and human rights issues that dogged Qatar’s 2022 World Cup preparations for a decade. Even a FIFA-appointed panel agreed workers in Qatar deserved remedy for the conditions they experienced.

FIFA has claimed a Saudi World Cup can drive change with “significant opportunities for positive human rights impact.”

When will the 2034 World Cup be played?

Mid-summer heat is similar to Qatar which hosted in November-December. However, that period in 2034 includes the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and Riyadh hosting the sprawling Asian Games. January could yet be an option despite the Salt Lake City Olympics in February 2034.

How will Saudi money transform FIFA finances, including payments to member federations?

This year, FIFA already created a new “major” World Cup sponsor category for Saudi oil firm Aramco in a deal reportedly worth $100 million each year. More Saudi sponsors surely will be announced after Wednesday.

FIFA’s 2025 Club World Cup looks likely to be underwritten by Saudi backing and help pay hundreds of millions in prize money expected by European clubs.