Saudi Arabia has officially been named as the host of the 2034 men’s World Cup, following the sole bid for the Fifa tournament being approved by acclamation. This outcome has been anticipated for over a year, as Fifa accelerated its bidding process for the 2034 event. The decision has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups, who highlight issues such as arbitrary detentions, the mistreatment and deaths of migrant workers, and the suppression of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
The English Football Association is believed to have supported the bid during the congress. Saudi officials have stated that the World Cup will be a key part of the country’s “remarkable transformation.” Their bid document claims that Saudi Arabia has “promoted a human rights approach” throughout the bidding process and pledges to “manage risks and maximize positive social impacts during the tournament.”
To accommodate the 48-team World Cup, Saudi Arabia will undertake a massive construction project, building 11 new stadiums. The tournament will be held across five cities, with Riyadh, the capital, hosting eight stadiums. Due to the region’s intense summer heat and the timing of Ramadan, the event is expected to take place in January and February.
Last year, Fifa shortened the window for countries to express interest in hosting and altered its infrastructure rules to allow countries with fewer suitable stadiums to bid. Saudi Arabia was the only nation to officially declare its interest. The vote was conducted by acclamation, with a virtual meeting of Fifa’s 211 member countries.
Rodney Dixon KC, who, along with other human rights experts, submitted a legal warning to Fifa in October, stating that the organization was “dealing with the devil” by planning to host the tournament in Saudi Arabia, criticized Fifa’s reputation as “in tatters” and accused the sport of being “denigrated.” Dixon, who has represented Hatice Cengiz, the widow of Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018, urged Fifa to demand minimum human rights standards from Saudi Arabia, including the release of political prisoners, an end to torture, protection of women’s rights, freedom of speech and association, worker rights, and an independent judiciary. If these conditions are not met, Dixon argued that Fifa should reconsider the host country.
The congress also ratified the 2030 World Cup award to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will each host a match during the tournament, a decision that Fifa acknowledged could have a “significant negative impact on the climate.”
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