FIFA awards World Cup 2034 to Saudi Arabia: Human rights situations in focus!

FIFA awards World Cup 2034 to Saudi Arabia: Human rights situations in focus!

The football world looks forward to the upcoming award of the 2034 World Cup, which is to officially go to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino makes short process and only has the 211 member associations approved, which seems to have been decided for a long time. Massive criticism of human rights organizations, which urgently warn against preventing the tournament in the heavy desert state. Bernd Neuendorf, President of the German Football Association (DFB), explained that a rejection of the award "nothing would have changed". Instead, one should concentrate on improving the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, such as reported.

While the FIFA Saudi Arabia attests a "unique, innovative and ambitious vision", Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warn of the "unimaginable human costs" that are connected to the preparations for the tournament. The concerns particularly affect the security of foreign visitors, especially women and LGBTQ+people who are exposed to massive restrictions in Saudi Arabia. The question remains how same sex and other human rights violations are dealt with during the World Cup, as clear guidelines are missing, as is the Süddeutsche Zeitung

On the upcoming digital congress, the DFB will vote for both World Cup rates of Saudi Arabia to avoid international isolation. Neuendorf emphasized that the association did not want to face the application of the kingdom, as this would be regarded as a "pure symbolic policy". Despite the serious allegations of human rights violations, the DFB remains optimistic and sees the need to work on positive changes in Saudi Arabia. The way to a sustainable World Cup seems to be paved before the official establishment.