Overview

• Saudi Arabia has secured over 900 sponsorship deals, with more than a third linked to its $925 billion Public Investment Fund, as part of its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
• The FIFA decision, set for December 11, will likely confirm Saudi Arabia as the host without a formal vote, following a fast-tracked process that left the country as the sole candidate.
• Critics, including Play The Game and Amnesty International, have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the ethical implications of its growing influence in global sports.
• FIFA's internal evaluation of Saudi Arabia's bid offered limited critical analysis, despite labor concerns tied to the construction of most of the proposed 15 stadiums.
• Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program underpins its sports strategy, aiming to diversify the economy, modernize society, and expand its geopolitical influence through high-profile events.