WM 2034 in Saudi Arabia: Is the big pressure on human rights now?

WM 2034 in Saudi Arabia: Is the big pressure on human rights now?

Saudi-Arabien, Königreich Saudi-Arabien - Saudi Arabia becomes host of the 2034 World Cup after the FIFA granted him the contract during an online congress. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the decision as part of an "incredible message of unity", although the kingdom has hit the headlines in the past few months due to serious human rights violations. The upcoming World Championships 2030 and 2034 are viewed by FIFA as one -off occasions to improve social standards in the host countries, as the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) emphasized. Infantino spoke of a festive prelude to the 100th anniversary of the World Championships about the World Cup 2030, which will take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco; The opening ceremony will be held in South America, where the tournament originated, according to the report by Zeitung .

WM 2030 and 2034: The details

The 2034 World Cup is expected to take place at a time that has not yet been determined because the summer months in Saudi Arabia are connected with extreme temperatures. This problem was also observed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the tournament was moved to the cooler winter months. When awarding the 2034 World Cup, only Saudi Arabia came into question as an Asian host because Australia waived an application. The decision for Saudi Arabia, which was referred to in the FIFA regulations as a potential host, triggered mixed reactions, especially because of the support of Infantino despite that of human rights organizations reported allegations.

Overall, the two tournaments are seen by the FIFA representatives as a way to combine the global football community, while they are also the focus of the international human rights discussion. As indicated by Infantino, the world will “stand still” and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the FIFA World Championship when the tournament begins in 2030. Such significant events could potentially put pressure on the host countries to promote positive social changes.