Saudi Arabia to host 2034 World Cup as FIFA 'approves' human rights record with highest ever score

11/30/2024 05:57 AM

Saudi Arabia is on course to host the 2034 men's World Cup with FIFA 'approving' its human rights record in a report released overnight.

World football's governing body awarded the Saudi bid a score of 4.198 out 5 – the highest evaluation score of any previous World Cup bidder.

Despite warnings of significant risks, FIFA stated there is 'good potential' it can 'serve as a catalyst for some of the ongoing and future reforms and contribute to positive human rights outcomes for people in Saudi Arabia.'

Saudi is expected to be officially named hosts in December.

FIFA released its report in the early hours of Saturday morning with the document also suggesting 2034 is likely to be another winter World Cup – as was the case in Qatar in 2022 where games took place in November and December.

The report has been published ahead of a vote by its member national associations on 11 December.

Human rights campaigners Amnesty International called for a halt to that vote earlier this month.

'Fans will face discrimination, residents will be forcibly evicted, migrant workers will face exploitation, and many will die,' head of labour rights and sport Steve Cockburn said.

But FIFA’s report scores Saudi Arabia as a ‘medium risk’ under human rights, acknowledging the need for ‘significant effort and time’ needed to implement reforms.

The report said: 'It is important to note that the bid involves significant opportunities for positive human rights impact.

'There is a good potential that the tournament could serve as a catalyst for some of the ongoing and future reforms and contribute to positive human rights outcomes for people in Saudi Arabia and the region that go beyond the scope of the tournament itself.'

The 2030 World Cup is set to be hosted across three continents by six countries in Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, with FIFA rules ruling out Africa, Europe and South America as possible host destinations again in 2034.

The joint USA, Canada and Mexico event for 2026 also rules North America out of making another successful bid, leaving Saudi with a free run.