Saudi Arabia: 2034 FIFA World Cup bid to be ratified despite rights violations & accusations of widespread abuse of migrant workers
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In December 2024, it was announced that Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup has been ratified by FIFA.
The announcement follows extensive criticism from human rights organisations, civil society, trade unions and diaspora groups who have documented egregious violations across the country. This includes its treatment of migrant workers from Asia and Africa, who are subject to severe rights violations in several sectors key to hosting mega-events, including construction, hotel and hospitality, transport and security industries.
There’s no doubt there are workers working in unsafe conditions without the protections they require. If they [Saudi Arabia] are denying a problem then they won’t be finding a solution.Steve Cockburn, head of labour rights and sport at Amnesty International
Reporting by The Guardian outlines egregious human rights risks in the country, including unsafe working conditions, extortionate recruitment fee charging, wage theft, among other abuses. The Guardian also emphasises how Saudi officials have allegedly failed to investigate the cause of workers’ deaths in the country, amid high numbers of unexplained deaths revealed in investigations by The Guardian and through government data in origin countries.
FIFA needs to cancel the vote and back athletes and human rights over profiteering from Saudi sportswashing. Every sponsor, business, broadcaster, and national team associated with the Saudi World Cup will be tainted by widespread labor and other abuses unless wholesale, urgent human rights reforms are implemented. FIFA’s decision to award Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup is an unforgivable betrayal of basic human rights that risks migrant workers’ lives. It deserves a red card.Minky Worden, Human Rights Watch's Director of Global Initiatives
FIFA has been approached by various media outlets for comment. A spokesperson for Fifa said: “All relevant information, including the bid evaluation reports for the 2030 and 2034 Fifa World Cup, are available on our website.”
In January 2025, FIFA defended it's decision to award Saudi Arabia the Men's World Cup in a letter to EU lawmakers, after 30 MEPs from across the political spectrum said the decision “undermines the principles upon which FIFA was founded". In the letter, Mattias Grafström (secretary-general of FIFA) said the country has committed to ensuring "equitable wages and decent working and living conditions for all individuals involved in the preparation and delivery of the FIFA World Cup".
FIFA appears to be laying the groundwork for mass violation of trade union rights in the name of profits for the few. Athletes, fans, local residents and millions of workers in the global World Cup supply chain deserve better.Luc Triangle, ITUC General Secretary