Nine human rights groups call on FIFA to stop 2034 World Cup bid due to major human rights concerns
Human Rights Groups Demand FIFA Halt 2034 World Cup Bidding Process
Nine human rights groups are calling on FIFA to suspend the bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, which is set to be held in Saudi Arabia. The groups are also raising concerns about the 2030 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with three games to be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Record
According to Amnesty International and the Sport and Rights Alliance, hosting the tournament in Saudi Arabia is likely to lead to severe and widespread human rights violations. The groups are citing the country’s poor human rights record, including restrictions on women’s rights, freedom of speech, and the use of capital punishment.
Concerns over 2030 World Cup
The human rights groups are also expressing concerns about the 2030 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. They are calling on FIFA to make the awarding of the tournament to these countries conditional on the development of a credible human rights strategy.
FIFA’s Response
A FIFA spokesperson has responded to the criticism, stating that the organization is implementing thorough bidding processes for the 2030 and 2034 editions of the FIFA World Cup, in line with previous processes for the selection of hosts for other FIFA tournaments.
Comparing Processes
The FIFA spokesperson cited the bidding processes for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil as examples of the thoroughness of the process.
What’s at Stake
The human rights groups are highlighting the importance of ensuring that the hosting of the World Cup does not come at the expense of human rights. They are calling on FIFA to take a more proactive approach to ensuring that the tournament is hosted in a way that respects the rights of all individuals involved.
The call to halt the bidding process for the 2034 World Cup and to demand a more credible human rights strategy for the 2030 World Cup is a significant one. As the world’s largest sporting event, the World Cup has the potential to bring people together and promote unity and understanding. However, it also has the potential to be a powerful tool for promoting human rights and social justice. It is essential that FIFA takes a more proactive approach to ensuring that the tournament is hosted in a way that respects the rights of all individuals involved.
