The Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup is a disgrace for FIFA

Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host country for the 2034 World Cup soccer tournament. It has been an open secret for some time that the Saudis would be given the nod. In the event, it turned out to be the easiest of contests, with no opponents and no actual vote — and all courtesy of FIFA, the tournament organizers. The Saudis were declared victors by acclamation, a way of doing things that will be met with approval by a country with an absolute monarchy, no political parties and scant regard for basic rights. FIFA, and in particular its president Gianni Infantino, have delivered the greatest sporting prize on a plate to the Saudis, whose takeover of international sport is now complete. 

There is no end to the Saudi largesse and no end of takers in sport

On the call to ratify the bids, delegates from the 211 countries taking part in the FIFA online congress in Zürich were simply informed of the final decisions. The 2030 World Cup (almost an irrelevance given the spotlight on the Saudis) will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with a match each in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The forty-eight-team 2034 tournament goes to Saudi Arabia in its entirety. 

This announcement brings the mostly opaque fifteen-month process to a rapid conclusion. FIFA simply steered things to the desired outcome, and any potential problems were quickly quashed along the way. There were few opportunities afforded to journalists wishing to ask awkward questions about the bids or the process. Little time has been afforded to address long-held concerns about the Saudi human rights record, or the working conditions for migrant workers at the stadiums that will be built for the tournament. 

Critics of the decision have been steered towards FIFA’s official valuation report of the Saudi bid, which awards the country a record score of 419.8 out of 500, designating it a medium risk on human rights and timing, and a low risk on sustainability commitment and environmental protection. Few independent observers would concur. Amnesty has described the official reports as an “elaborate facade,” pointing out the Saudis’ poor record on human rights and the fact that workers are likely to die without proper protections in place. No one should be fooled by the claims of FIFA and Saudi officials that the tournament can accelerate change in the country, including more freedoms and rights for women.

Infantino’s fingerprints are all over this wretched outcome. He has been the prime moving force behind the Saudi success, visiting the country regularly and often. Infantino has a well-documented liking for the rich and powerful (check out his Instagram feed), and he has developed close ties with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a man with more money and power than most. 

Saudi Arabia has already hosted the 2023 Club World Cup and FIFA recently signed a lucrative deal with the Saudi state-owned oil company, Aramco. There has been hardly a whimper of dissent from the various national governing bodies of the game, with only Norway formally voicing concern. 

England’s Football Association (FA) should hang its head in shame for going along with this farce. FA officials are believed to have been wary of accusations of hypocrisy if it were not to support the Saudi Arabia bid but then want England to take part in the tournament. The FA also has other goals in mind, such as a future women’s World Cup bid. That means having to keep FIFA bigwigs on side. It is a risible state of affairs. 

The wider picture is just as dispiriting. Soccer is not the only sport to go weak at the knees at all the dosh on offer from the Saudis. Boxing’s biggest bouts now take place in Saudi, snooker has been seduced with pots of money, as has Formula 1, golf and tennis. 

All this lavish funding comes from the $900 billion Saudi public investment fund, which already owns soccer teams like Britain’s Newcastle United. The streaming platform DAZN, which has close links to the Saudis, appears to have come up with a $1 billion global broadcasting deal to help rescue the controversial new FIFA club World Cup competition. 

There is no end to the Saudi largesse and no end of takers in sport. Few of those charged with running international sport appear to give a fig that their Saudi paymasters are engaged in “sportswashing,” using their billions to deflect criticism of their record on civil rights and liberties, the torture and imprisonment of dissidents, and their oppression of women and religious minorities. No one should underestimate the significance of this moment for international sport: this is a new low for FIFA and further damages the reputation of soccer.