FIFA under fire for Saudi World Cup bid

Human rights organizations are raising serious concerns as FIFA prepares to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 Men's World Cup. Saudi Arabia, as the sole bidder for the tournament, faces scrutiny over its treatment of migrant workers, who will be essential for constructing stadiums and infrastructure.

Reports indicate troubling statistics regarding migrant worker deaths in Saudi Arabia. Data shows 13,685 Bangladeshi workers died between 2008 and 2022, with over 1,500 deaths in 2022 alone. Recent figures from January to July 2024 reveal 887 additional Bangladeshi deaths, with 80% attributed to "natural causes" - a classification that rights advocates question.

The country hosts over 10 million migrants, primarily from Asian and African nations, working in construction, hospitality, and domestic sectors. Workers reportedly face unsafe conditions, illegal recruitment fees, and wage theft. Despite Saudi Arabia's claims of maintaining robust worker protection regulations, human rights groups argue that inadequate investigation of deaths and poor working conditions persist.

FIFA faces criticism for proceeding without requiring binding commitments to prevent labor abuse, especially following similar concerns during Qatar's 2022 World Cup. A bid evaluation report commissioned by Saudi Arabia has been accused of "whitewashing" the country's migrant worker rights record.

While FIFA maintains that Saudi Arabia has committed to protecting internationally recognized human rights, activists argue that concrete reforms and better protections for workers and activists are necessary before confirming the host nation. The decision is expected to be finalized this week, placing responsibility for subsequent developments on FIFA.

Saudi Arabia has also talked about potentially bidding for the 2035 Women's World Cup.