December 11th 2024.
Saudi Arabia has officially been chosen as the host country for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, despite concerns about their human rights record. In a recent meeting, the governing body of world football, FIFA, met to confirm the Gulf state's bid. This was not a traditional vote, but rather a virtual gathering of member associations who all agreed to approve Saudi as the sole host for the tournament.
The decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia was not without controversy. The 2030 hosts have also been confirmed, with a joint bid from six countries across three continents, including Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. FIFA's rules prevent Africa, Europe, and South America from hosting again in 2034, and the joint bid from USA, Canada, and Mexico for 2026 also eliminates North America from making another bid. This left Saudi as the only remaining option.
However, the speed at which the Saudi bid was approved has raised concerns about transparency and accountability. In fact, Norway's football federation chose to abstain from giving their approval, citing these concerns. Saudi has ambitious plans for the World Cup, including building new stadiums, hotels, and transportation infrastructure. However, these plans rely heavily on migrant labor, which has raised human rights concerns.
Last month, Amnesty International urged FIFA to stop the bidding process, warning that awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without proper human rights protections in place could have negative consequences. They also called for reform in the country. Despite these warnings, FIFA gave the Saudi bid its highest-ever rating in their evaluation report, stating that the World Cup could potentially serve as a catalyst for positive human rights outcomes in the country.
One of the concerns raised in FIFA's evaluation report was the extreme temperatures in Saudi Arabia, which can reach up to 43°C in the summer. To address this, there have been suggestions that the 2034 World Cup could be played between October and April, similar to the mid-season schedule in Qatar for the 2022 tournament. This could also avoid a potential conflict with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which would fall during the November-December slot.
However, this proposed schedule has faced opposition from top European football leagues, who are unlikely to support a winter World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Only time will tell when and how the 2034 World Cup will be played in the Gulf state, but one thing is certain - Saudi Arabia's unchallenged bid has been ratified, and preparations for the tournament are already underway.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
