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December 12, 2024 | 01:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The world football’s ruling body FIFA announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This decision was made during the FIFA Congress held virtually on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
The announcement also confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be a joint venture, hosted by Morocco (Africa), Spain, and Portugal (Europe). Notably, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will jointly host the opening match of the 2030 World Cup to commemorate the centennial of the tournament.
Saudi Arabia's selection as the 2034 World Cup host was unsurprising, as it was the sole bidder for the tournament. The selection of Saudi as host is likely to impact the tournament's timing. While World Cups traditionally take place during the summer months from June to July, the extreme heat in Saudi may need a shift to a later period in the year, similar to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was held in November and December.
Human Rights Concerns Cast a Shadow on the Decision
FIFA’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from numerous human rights organizations. This move represents a milestone in Saudi's ambition to enhance its global image through major sporting events over the past few years.
“FIFA's reckless decision... will put many lives at risk,” Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labour Rights and Sport, said in a statement issued by 21 human rights organizations, such as Saudi diaspora human rights organizations, migrant worker groups from Nepal and Kenya, international labor unions, and fan representatives.
“FIFA knows workers will be exploited and even die without fundamental reforms in Saudi Arabia, and yet has chosen to press ahead regardless,” the statement added.
Amnesty International believes that FIFA's decision serves to bolster Saudi Arabia's image while overlooking serious human rights concerns. Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its suppression of labor unions, the lack of a minimum wage for migrant workers, and the enforcement of the "kafala" sponsorship system, which restricts the freedom of movement for foreign workers.
"Kafala" ties migrant workers to a single employer, severely limiting their ability to leave the country without their employer's consent. This system, according to human rights groups, leaves migrant workers highly vulnerable to exploitation.
While Saudi Arabia denies these allegations of human rights violations, asserting that its laws effectively protect national security, human rights organizations have documented numerous instances of abuse.
The head of the Saudi World Cup bid unit told Reuters last week that the kingdom had launched several initiatives to safeguard workers' rights as part of Vision 2030.
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