The allegations of abuses, from “rampant wage theft” to near-forced labor, mirror dark chapters of recent World Cup history. Last week, Michael Page of Human Rights Watch presented findings from a report based on 155 interviews and two years of research. The report highlighted “dangerous” conditions for migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, including how the infamous kafala system ties migrants to employers. Many workers are forced to pay exorbitant and illegal recruitment fees, face minimal labor law protections, insufficient investigations into worker deaths, and lack access to a minimum wage.
But this isn’t about Qatar, whose World Cup was marred by similar issues. This is about Saudi Arabia, soon to be confirmed as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
At a virtual congress on Wednesday, FIFA will officially approve Saudi Arabia’s bid, a move criticized by human rights organizations as “an elaborate fix” and “a sham from start to finish.” Behind closed doors last year, FIFA officials struck a deal to distribute the 2030 World Cup across six countries and three continents, fast-tracking the 2034 bid process. Saudi Arabia emerged as the only eligible and realistic bidder. Despite this predetermined outcome, FIFA staged a democratic host selection process for 14 months, during which Saudi officials submitted plans for 11 new stadiums and a “Human Rights Strategy,” among other documents. Amnesty International has described these documents as a “whitewash,” noting their lack of mention of LGBTQ+ rights and insufficient acknowledgment of Saudi Arabia’s dire human rights record. This record includes mass executions, torture, suppression of free speech, severe restrictions on women, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and migrant abuses, as outlined by a coalition of human rights organizations.
Saudi Arabia ranked 192nd out of 210 on the Freedom House index for political rights and civil liberties, with citizens categorized as “Not Free.” Migrant labor, however, remains a pressing concern. Saudi Arabia currently hosts over 13 million migrant workers, many of whom are already building World Cup infrastructure, with more expected to arrive by 2034. According to Page, the risks to workers in Saudi Arabia surpass those in Qatar due to the scale and scope of ongoing projects.
FIFA recently published an internal report on its “responsibility” to address abuses tied to Qatar 2022. The report, endorsed by FIFA’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and Social Responsibility, recommended compensating workers who suffered or died during the Qatar World Cup preparations. However, FIFA chose not to implement this recommendation, allocating none of Qatar’s World Cup Legacy Fund to worker compensation. Instead, FIFA’s decision to award Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup invites a decade of scrutiny and potential danger for workers.
“FIFA moving forward with a World Cup that has predictable and preventable labor rights abuses without compensating the families of thousands of migrant workers who died delivering its last World Cup is an egregious failure,” said Minky Worden, director at Human Rights Watch. Page noted FIFA’s focus on engineering and manipulating the bidding process rather than addressing human rights concerns. The selection of Saudi Arabia as host risks amplifying violations against migrant workers and others.
Human rights organizations like Amnesty, ALQST, and the Building and Wood Workers International union (BWI) report that they were not consulted during the Saudi bid process. Clifford Chance, the law firm conducting the “independent assessment” of the bid, based its findings on engagement with Saudi government ministries, excluding international human rights experts. Saudi activist Lina al-Hathloul, whose sister was jailed and tortured for women’s rights activism, emphasized the impossibility of credible assessments within the Kingdom due to state suppression of dissent.
FIFA has largely accepted Saudi Arabia’s narrative, framing the World Cup as a catalyst for social progress rather than a tool for “sportswashing.” FIFA’s evaluation of the Saudi bid praised its “concrete commitments” to upholding human rights while acknowledging that such progress might require significant effort and time. However, rights groups highlight implementation and enforcement gaps in Saudi reforms, such as the 2021 Labor Reform Initiative, which aimed to increase job mobility for migrants but has fallen short in practice.
In June, BWI filed formal complaints with the International Labor Organization citing severe abuses, including wage theft, unsafe conditions, and forced labor. Page noted that the kafala system remains intact in Saudi Arabia, particularly in remote “giga-projects” like Neom, a proposed World Cup host city. Workers in these isolated areas face heightened vulnerability due to limited access to support networks.
Despite the predictable risks, FIFA’s selection process lacked transparency and accountability. Infantino’s close relationship with Saudi officials and the influence of Saudi money have fueled criticism. By effectively choosing Saudi Arabia before the bidding process began, FIFA undermined its leverage on human rights commitments. Critics like Steve Cockburn of Amnesty International described the process as serving a “predetermined outcome,” holding FIFA accountable for the human consequences.
Saudi Arabia’s bid documents promise human rights improvements under the Vision 2030 framework, but rights groups remain skeptical. The upcoming World Cup risks being stained with abuses unless comprehensive reforms are effectively implemented. Meanwhile, FIFA’s failure to address past abuses in Qatar and its opaque decision-making have further eroded trust in the organization. “The lack of transparency challenges trust in FIFA as the global custodian of football,” said Norwegian soccer president Lise Klaveness, underscoring the urgent need for accountability.
