FIFA is expected to halt the process to select Saudi Arabia as host of the men’s World Cup in 2034 unless major human rights reforms are announced before a vote by FIFA members next month.; This was stated today by Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) coalition. Both also called on FIFA to make the choice of Morocco, Portugal and Spain as tripartite hosts of the 2030 World Cup conditional on the presentation of a much more credible human rights strategy.
In his new relationshipChigh-risk travel. Dangerously flawed human rights strategies for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World CupsAmnesty International and the SRA evaluate the human rights strategies proposed by Morocco, Portugal and Spain for the 2030 championship and by Saudi Arabia for the 2034 championship. The report concludes that none of the bidders adequately explained how they will comply with the human rights standards set by FIFA in its bidding regulations or consulted meaningfully with human rights organizations, and that the risks in Saudi Arabia are so high that holding the championship would likely lead to serious and widespread human rights violations.
“Choosing Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup will have a real and foreseeable human cost if credible guarantees for reform are not obtained. There will be discrimination against fans, forced evictions of residents and exploitation of migrant workers, and many will die. “FIFA must suspend the process until adequate human rights protections are in place to prevent an already serious situation from worsening,” said Steve Cockburn, director of labor and sport rights at Amnesty International.
“FIFA must also call for much more credible strategies and binding commitments to prevent human rights violations in relation to the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Portugal and Spain “They have not yet adequately explained how players and fans will be protected from discriminatory abuse, what measures will be taken to prevent excessive use of police force or how residents’ right to housing will be protected.”
In June 2024, Amnesty International and the SRA published a 91 page report which detailed the risks associated with the 2030 and 2034 World Cups.
Saudi Arabia’s bid dossier for the 2034 World Cup sets out ambitious plans to build or renovate 11 stadiums, more than 185,000 additional hotel rooms and major infrastructure projects, from transport links to new cities.
“Saudi Arabia will need a huge amount of migrant labor to achieve its World Cup goals, yet it has expressed no commitment to reforming the country’s abusive “kafala” sponsorship system, establishing a minimum wage for non-citizens, allowing them to join unions or introduce new measures to prevent worker deaths,” explained Steve Cockburn.
“Saudi Arabia’s human rights strategy does not address the government’s severe crackdown on freedom of expression or the continued incarceration of people who have been sentenced to spend decades in prison simply for expressing themselves, suggesting there is no serious commitment for reform.”
Despite the massive infrastructure projects, the human rights strategy included in the bid does not detail new measures to protect against forced evictions or compensate those who suffer them. It also does not address discrimination against women or the criminalization of extramarital and same-sex relationships, nor does it include measures or commitments to protect LGBTI fans and residents from abuse or arrest.
Among the human rights risks highlighted by Amnesty International and the SRA in their June 2024 report are: excessive use of police force against crowds in all three countries; the improper use of rubber bullets; restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly and the persistence of racist, sexist and homophobic insults in football.
However, the human rights strategies presented by the three football associations did not express a clear commitment to adequately address most of the risks identified by Amnesty International and the SRA, and were based on very limited consultation.
“Morocco, Portugal and Spain need to take their human rights obligations much more seriously,” said Steve Cockburn. “The 2030 World Cup would be a good opportunity to strengthen human rights protection in all three countries, but only if their governments and football associations are willing to do so by working closely with fans, human rights organizations , trade unions and other interested groups”.
FIFA has incorporated human rights criteria into the selection process of host countries for the 2026 Men’s World Cup for the first time, following controversies over the selection of Russia and Qatar for 2018 and 2022.
In October 2023, FIFA confirmed that bids for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups must again explain how they intend to comply with a number of human rights standards, including employment rights, discrimination and freedom of expression, and demonstrate that these requirements will be ”fully complied with”. binding obligations”. However, by adopting a single candidate process for each league, FIFA has seriously compromised its ability to influence human rights reforms. Furthermore, in October 2024, FIFA announced that football associations will not be able to vote for each candidate separately, but will have to approve or reject both with a single vote.
It even appears that FIFA helped pave the way for Saudi Arabia to present a weak human rights strategy by accepting one serious reduction in the scope and scope of the human rights risk assessment carried out by law firm AS&H Clifford Chancewhich omitted key human rights issues such as freedom of expression, discrimination against LGBTI people and forced evictions. FIFA did not respond to Amnesty International’s request to confirm the basis for doing so, and Clifford Chance’s cabinet merely responded that it would be “inappropriate” to comment further.
“FIFA has long ensured the application of human rights criteria in the choice of World Cup venues and in the celebration of its emblematic championships. “If FIFA is not honest about the scale and severity of the risks involved and does not act to prevent them, it will demonstrate that its commitment to human rights is a farce,” said Andrea Florence, director of the Sports and Rights Alliance.
“FIFA was the first international sports organization to incorporate human rights criteria into the venue selection process for a major sporting event, and it would be scandalous to see it now completely discard these principles in favor of its own profits.”
- Next month, FIFA plans to present its assessment of both candidates’ human rights strategies to its governing board, the FIFA Council. If approved by the Council, 211 football associations will hold an extraordinary online conference to vote on the approval of the nominations on 11 December.
- The Sport & Rights Alliance coalition is made up of Amnesty International, The Army of Survivors, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Football Supporters Europe, Human Rights Watch, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World ), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and World Players Association, part of Uni Global Union.
- Here you will find more information about FIFA World Cup 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034.
What are the main human rights concerns raised by Amnesty International regarding the FIFA World Cup host countries?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Steve Cockburn, Director of Labor and Sport Rights at Amnesty International
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Steve Cockburn! We appreciate you taking the time to discuss the latest developments regarding the FIFA World Cups in 2030 and 2034. Amnesty International has raised some serious concerns about the human rights strategies of the bidding countries. Can you start by outlining the key issues you’ve identified with Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup?
Steve Cockburn: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial to discuss these issues, especially given the significance of the World Cup. Saudi Arabia’s bid raises alarm bells for multiple reasons. Firstly, despite ambitious plans to construct or renovate stadiums and develop infrastructure, there’s a glaring absence of commitment to reform the “kafala” sponsorship system that currently exploits migrant workers. This is critical since they will rely heavily on this labor to execute their World Cup plans.
Time.news Editor: That sounds concerning. So, what specific human rights violations could occur if Saudi Arabia is awarded the Cup without adequate reforms?
Steve Cockburn: We foresee a range of serious violations. Without credible guarantees for reform, there will be significant discrimination against fans, forced evictions of residents, and exploitation of migrant workers. Sadly, there is a high risk of casualties among workers involved in World Cup preparations, given the current state of labor rights in the country. It’s essential that FIFA understands the real-world implications of their decisions in awarding these tournaments.
Time.news Editor: In your report, you also mentioned serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and discrimination against marginalized groups. Can you elaborate on that?
Steve Cockburn: Absolutely. Saudi Arabia’s human rights strategy does not address the government’s crackdown on free speech or the imprisonments of those who’ve expressed dissenting opinions. Furthermore, there are no provisions concerning the safety of LGBTI fans or residents. The current legal framework in Saudi Arabia criminalizes same-sex relationships, and there’s no guarantee that visitors will be protected from discrimination or potential abuse.
Time.news Editor: Moving on to the 2030 World Cup, hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, you’ve noted that their bidding strategy is also lacking. What specific human rights issues did you identify for those countries?
Steve Cockburn: All three host countries need to take their human rights obligations seriously. While they have presented their strategies, they fail to fully address key risks like police violence, restrictions on freedom of expression, and protection against discrimination. Their plans lack meaningful engagement with human rights organizations, which is essential for building credible and sustainable protections for fans and residents.
Time.news Editor: FIFA has stated that it will consider human rights standards in its selection process for World Cup hosts. How do you assess their efforts so far?
Steve Cockburn: While it’s a step in the right direction to incorporate human rights considerations, the execution is lacking. By adopting a single candidate process for each league, FIFA has limited its influence on enforcing genuine human rights reforms. The recent decisions suggest that FIFA may have compromised its principles by accepting a weak human rights risk assessment for Saudi Arabia. Transparency and accountability are crucial now more than ever.
Time.news Editor: What are your thoughts on the potential outcomes if FIFA were to ignore these human rights concerns and proceed with the selection?
Steve Cockburn: Ignoring these issues would set a dangerous precedent. It would signal that economic interests and sporting events take precedence over fundamental human rights. This could lead not only to widespread violations during the events but also diminish the reputation of FIFA and the legitimacy of football as a sport dedicated to unity and respect. There would be a very real human cost—in terms of lives and dignity—if adequate protections are not put in place.
Time.news Editor: It’s clear that the stakes are incredibly high. As we approach the voting process next month, what immediate actions do you hope FIFA will take to address these concerns?
Steve Cockburn: I urge FIFA to suspend the selection process until stronger human rights guarantees are established by all bidding countries. Specifically, they need binding commitments that effectively protect workers’ rights, ensure freedom of expression, and safeguard marginalized communities during the World Cup. They have a responsibility to ensure that these events do not come at the expense of basic human dignity.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Steve, for shedding light on these crucial issues. We hope that FIFA takes your insights into consideration as they navigate this complex situation.
Steve Cockburn: Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue to advocate for human rights in sports, and I appreciate your efforts to bring these issues to the forefront.