Fifa has set the seal on one of the most controversial decisions in its tumultuous history by confirming that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup.

In a decision that Amnesty International has said “will put many lives at risk” and which has drawn opprobrium from NGOs, trade unions and legal and governance experts, as well as supporters, the Gulf state will stage the 48-team tournament in 15 stadiums across five cities, most likely in winter.

The news has been anticipated for more than a year…

…On Wednesday, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre published data saying it tracked 82 instances of “corporate abuse of migrant workers” in the country from January 2022 to October 2024. It said one in four of these cases related to construction workers and the organisation reported allegations of workers undertaking 10-hour shifts in 45C heat on the Aramco stadium in Al Khobar...

The English Football Association joined in the act of acclamation, supporting both bids. In a statement it defended the decision and said it had held discussions with Saudi authorities over guaranteeing protections for LGBTQ+ fans who wish to travel to the tournament...