Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich on Wednesday by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino.
“The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” said Infantino, who had asked officials on a bank of screens to clap their hands at head level to show their support.
The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games.
The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930.
The decisions complete a mostly opaque 15-month bid process which Infantino helped steer toward Saudi Arabia without a rival candidate, without taking questions, and which human rights groups warn will put the lives of migrant workers at risk.
FIFA and Saudi officials have said hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women.
One of the stadiums is planned to be 350 meters (yards) above the ground in Neom — a futuristic city that does not yet exist — and another named for the crown prince is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff near Riyadh.
During the bid campaign, FIFA has accepted limited scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record that was widely criticized this year at the United Nations.
Saudi and international rights groups and activists warned FIFA it has not learned the lessons of Qatar’s much-criticized preparations to host the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA made a “reckless decision” to approve Saudi Arabia without getting public assurances to protect human rights, an international collective of rights groups said in a statement.
“At every stage of this bidding process, FIFA has shown its commitment to human rights to be a sham,” said Amnesty International’s head of labor rights and sport, Steve Cockburn.
The kingdom plans to spend tens of billion of dollars on projects related to the World Cup as part of the crown prince’s sweeping Vision 2030 project that aims to modernize Saudi society and economy. At its core is spending on sports by the $900 billion sovereign wealth operation, the Public Investment Fund, which he oversees. Critics have called it “sportswashing” of the kingdom’s reputation.
Conclusion:
The decision to host the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia raises concerns about the treatment of migrant workers and the impact on human rights. FIFA and Saudi officials claim that hosting the tournament will bring about positive change, but critics argue that the benefits will not be shared equally among all stakeholders.
FAQs:
- What is the significance of Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup?
- It is a major milestone for Saudi Arabia and a significant achievement for the country’s sports sector.
- What are the concerns about the treatment of migrant workers?
- Human rights groups warn that the construction of stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup will put the lives of migrant workers at risk due to poor working conditions and lack of protection.
- What is the significance of the 2030 World Cup?
- It will be the first World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries, and it will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930.
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