GENEVA — On Wednesday, there were calls for FIFA to withhold the hosting rights of the 2034 World Cup from Saudi Arabia, unless the nation commits to safeguarding the rights of migrant workers involved in its extensive projects.
A report from Human Rights Watch titled “Die First, And I’ll Pay You Later” highlighted alleged malpractice experienced by over 150 migrant workers, both current and former, along with the families of some who have died in Saudi Arabia. The findings included reports of unlawful recruitment fees, forced labor, wage infractions, extreme working conditions, and insufficient legal protections. The investigation engaged with workers across various sectors such as construction, hospitality, private health services, and retail.
According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi authorities are failing to adequately protect these workers or address the violations they endure. The report added that without intervention, there is a significant risk that the forthcoming World Cup will be overshadowed by widespread human rights abuses. As the only contender, Saudi Arabia is set to be the sole focus during the upcoming online gathering of FIFA’s 211 member nations next week.
FIFA is proposing that members approve Saudi Arabia as host without conducting a detailed vote. Additionally, FIFA plans to recommend Spain, Portugal, and Morocco to host the 2030 World Cup, along with select matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Despite persistent requests from activists and legal experts for a thorough review of the Saudi World Cup proposition including access for international observers, FIFA appears resistant to these demands. Critics warn that FIFA may repeat the mistakes that plagued the 2022 World Cup preparations in Qatar, which were marked by extensive rights violations, despite warnings from organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
While Qatar did make reforms to its labor practices, particularly the “kafala” system that binds workers to employers, similar issues persist in Saudi Arabia, where enforcement of labor laws is often lacking. An internal assessment by FIFA acknowledged the strengths of Saudi’s bid but emphasized the necessity for considerable advancements to meet international labor standards, which have come under scrutiny at the United Nations Human Rights Council over the past year.
As part of its World Cup proposal, Saudi Arabia plans to construct 15 stadiums alongside substantial hotel accommodations, aiming to add 175,000 available rooms across five host cities, in addition to infrastructure improvements including rail, road, and airport enhancements linked to the ambitious mega-city Neom. Among these are eight stadiums that must be built from the ground up, including a 92,000-seat venue in Riyadh designed to host both the opening and closing games. Currently, three are under construction for the 2027 Asian Cup, while four additional facilities are slated for renovations.
The stadium in Neom is projected to be “the most unique stadium in the world,” featuring a playing field elevated 350 meters above ground. However, Human Rights Watch has referred to the multi-billion dollar initiatives like Neom as “management consultant-abetted fantasies” funded primarily through the Public Investment Fund.
The report states that about 40% of Saudi Arabia’s population comprises migrant workers, totaling approximately 13.4 million individuals. Migrants from Bangladesh represent the largest group at 15.8% of the workforce, followed closely by workers from India, Pakistan, and Yemen. Recent Bangladeshi government figures indicated that 498,000 of its nationals traveled to Saudi Arabia for employment in 2023, with 887 reported fatalities from January to July of that same year, 80% of which were attributed to “natural causes.”
The report noted that these numbers are likely to rise as Saudi Arabia ramps up worker recruitment in preparation for various mega-projects associated with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 modernization program.
In light of these findings, Human Rights Watch has urged FIFA to refrain from announcing Saudi Arabia as the World Cup host until there are assurances regarding the rights of migrant workers, women’s rights, press freedom, and broader human rights protections. The organization advocates for active collaboration from FIFA with migrant worker communities in Saudi Arabia and independent human rights entities over the next decade.
Moreover, it suggests that governments from migrants’ countries should bolster support through their embassies, educate workers about their rights, and engage Saudi authorities to establish a non-discriminatory minimum wage. Companies involved in projects linked to the Public Investment Fund are also encouraged to undertake independent evaluations adhering to UN guidelines on business and human rights while making public commitments to these standards.
Finally, sponsors of the World Cup are being urged to create a fund to compensate migrant workers and their families for wage violations, injuries, or fatalities occurring during the construction of World Cup infrastructure. Currently, there are no sponsors signed on for FIFA’s events through 2034.
