FIFA Faces Pressure Over Human Rights Concerns for Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup Bid

Legal and human rights experts urge FIFA to implement independent monitoring of Saudi Arabia's human rights obligations amid its unopposed bid to host the World Cup.

• FIFA is urged to include independent human rights scrutiny in the 2034 World Cup hosting contract with Saudi Arabia, the sole bidder.
• Experts highlight Saudi Arabia's record on freedom of speech, labor laws, and women's rights, calling for ongoing reviews and potential termination clauses.
• Saudi Arabia's plans involve significant construction projects, raising concerns about potential labor abuses among the 13 million migrant workers.
• The call for scrutiny follows Saudi Arabia's failure to secure a seat on the UN Human Rights Council and criticism of its human rights record under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• FIFA has not publicly addressed the human rights report submitted by legal experts, despite previous commitments to uphold human rights standards in World Cup bids.

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