November 30th 2024.
In the year 2034, the highly anticipated World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia. The decision was announced by FIFA, the international governing body of football, after conducting a thorough evaluation of the country's human rights record. The report, released during the wee hours of Saturday, revealed that Saudi Arabia earned the highest evaluation score of 4.198 out of 5, surpassing all previous bidders.
Despite concerns raised about potential risks, FIFA deemed Saudi Arabia's bid to be promising and capable of bringing about positive changes in the country. The organization stated that the World Cup has the potential to serve as a catalyst for ongoing and future reforms, ultimately leading to better human rights outcomes for the people of Saudi Arabia. The official announcement of Saudi Arabia as the host country is expected to be made in December.
According to the report, the 2034 World Cup is likely to be held during the winter months, following in the footsteps of the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which took place in November and December. This information has been released in advance of the vote by FIFA's member national associations on December 11th, in order to provide transparency and allow for informed decision making.
However, not everyone is in favor of Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup. Human rights organization Amnesty International has called for a halt to the vote, citing concerns about discrimination, forced evictions, exploitation of migrant workers, and potential deaths. Steve Cockburn, head of labor rights and sport at Amnesty International, expressed his concerns, stating that these issues are likely to arise if the World Cup is held in Saudi Arabia.
FIFA's report acknowledges the need for significant effort and time to implement reforms in Saudi Arabia, as the country has been deemed a 'medium risk' in terms of human rights. However, the report also highlights the potential for positive impact that the World Cup could have, not just within the scope of the tournament itself, but also in the long term for the country and the region.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, six other countries have been selected to jointly host the 2030 World Cup, across three continents. This leaves Saudi Arabia as the only option for a successful bid from the Middle East, as FIFA rules out Africa, Europe, and South America as potential host destinations for the 2034 tournament. The United States, Canada, and Mexico have also secured the rights to host the 2026 World Cup, further narrowing down the options for future host countries.
Overall, FIFA's decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia has sparked both excitement and concern. While the country has been praised for its strong bid and potential for positive change, there are also valid concerns about human rights issues that need to be addressed. As the countdown to 2034 begins, it remains to be seen what impact the World Cup will have on Saudi Arabia and its people.
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