Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the sole bidder to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, raising concerns over Fifa’s ability to fulfil its human rights commitments.

After Australia decided against a bid, having been given a 25-day window by Fifa to express interest when the deadline was brought forward unexpectedly to 4pm GMT on Tuesday, the prospect of a second World Cup in the Gulf within 12 years is all but a formality. The lack of a competitive tender and the alacrity with which the process has been conducted, however, have prompted alarm among human rights groups. Amnesty International called on Fifa to pull the plug if human rights commitments were not fulfilled...

Under the terms of its bidding process for the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cup finals tournaments, Fifa expects any host to conform with the terms of the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This would require, in Fifa’s words, “human rights and labour standards to be implemented by the bidding member associations, the government(s) and other entities involved in the organisation of the competitions, such as those responsible for the construction and renovation of stadiums, training sites, hotels and airports”.

Any country hoping to host a World Cup must, as a first step, lay out as part of its bid human rights risks that could prevent them from meeting the UN guidelines. Fifa is then committed to “constructively engage with relevant authorities and other stakeholders and make every effort to uphold its international human rights responsibilities”...

Saudi Arabia has until July 2024 to submit its full bid. Fifa is due to publish its assessments at the end of next year before a confirming vote is held at its Congress. With Fifa having failed to extract binding commitments on human rights when the World Cup was awarded to Qatar in 2010, a series of measures developed under Gianni Infantino after his election as president in 2016 sought to address the problem, with limited effect. Workers continued to be exploited during the buildup to the tournament and reports persist of individuals having payments withheld and being denied their rights since...