GENEVA — In a significant move regarding the future of international football, FIFA has validated Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the men’s 2034 World Cup, as detailed in a comprehensive 110-page evaluation report released on Saturday. This assessment highlighted various concerns, particularly the elevated risks associated with human rights within the prosperous Gulf nation.
FIFA’s internal review team emphasized that Saudi Arabia would need to dedicate “substantial effort and time” to meet international standards for the tournament, which have faced widespread criticism this year at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Furthermore, the evaluation categorized the bid as “medium risk,” due to the ambitious construction plans involving 15 stadiums and numerous hotels necessary for accommodating the 48 teams and 104 matches of this expansive tournament.
Just after midnight local time, FIFA released the mandatory assessment of the Saudi initiative, marking it as the sole contender since a rapid bidding process began last October. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has developed strong relationships with influential figures in Saudi Arabia, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
On December 11, FIFA is set to conduct an online assembly of 211 national football federations, where it will request unanimous support for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup, limited to bids from Asian and Oceanic members. Concurrently, the federation will also seek approval for the joint co-hosting bid from Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for the 2030 tournament—this plan includes hosting a match apiece for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, marking the nations that held the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
Trade unions, human rights advocates, and legal experts have raised serious concerns regarding the labor conditions on Saudi construction sites, particularly focusing on the “kafala” sponsorship system that binds migrant workers to their employers. In light of these issues, two U.S. senators recently appealed to FIFA to reconsider its selection of Saudi Arabia as host for 2034.
The FIFA evaluation acknowledged potential benefits, stating, “it is important to note that the bid involves significant opportunities for positive human rights impact.” However, worries persist that this World Cup could mirror the challenges experienced during Qatar’s preparation for the 2022 tournament.
Qatar’s hosting scenario revealed heavy reliance on migrant labor under strenuous conditions, often with minimal legal safeguards. Supporting Qatar’s efforts, the UN-affiliated International Labor Organization worked on modernizing the kafala system, although this process was slower and less thorough than unions and non-governmental organizations desired.
In the bid proposal, Saudi Arabia committed to instituting “robust workers’ welfare systems to safeguard individuals involved in the tournament infrastructure.” Notably, the initiative pledged collaboration with the ILO but did not extend this partnership to global trade unions or rights organizations.
Amnesty International, based in London, criticized FIFA’s evaluation, labeling it a disturbing overlook of the country’s severe human rights violations.
The 32-team World Cup held in Qatar lasted just 28 days in November and December—an aberration from the typical June-July schedule where temperatures often soar above 40 Celsius (104 degrees). Hosting a 48-team tournament over approximately 38 days in Saudi Arabia poses challenges, especially considering planned events such as the Asian Games in early December 2034, and the observance of Ramadan, which spans from mid-November to mid-December.
Moreover, the 2034 sports calendar has another conflict with the Winter Olympics taking place in early February in Salt Lake City, Utah.
From an environmental perspective, FIFA’s report suggested that the Saudi World Cup would involve “a reliance on air travel” among the proposed cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom. Speculation has emerged that Saudi Arabia might distribute some of the 104 matches across neighboring countries and emirates.
From a financial standpoint, the inspection report recognized a “strong commercial position” for FIFA, forecasting a “substantial hospitality footprint” for the tournament. In an effort to balance commercial interests, FIFA has imposed a cap, limiting corporate hospitality tickets to 25% of the total stadium capacity, which will range from 46,000 to 92,000 seats at the planned King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh, the venue slated to host the final match.
Additionally, FIFA established a sponsorship deal with the Saudi oil company Aramco earlier this year, with expectations of further lucrative agreements following the anticipated December 11 confirmation. The upcoming Club World Cup tournament, set to restart next June in the United States, is also expected to benefit from these developments.