FIFA, Saudi Arabia and Human Rights: Unpacking the Complexities of Hosting World Cup Tournaments

Amnesty International has expressed its concerns about Saudi Aramco’s four-year global partnership deal with FIFA, which sponsors the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Steve Cockburn, the Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, highlighted the irony of a Saudi Arabian company sponsoring the Women’s World Cup while women like Salma al-Shehab and Manahel al-Otaibi are imprisoned in the Kingdom for advocating gender equality.

With Saudi Arabia currently being the sole bidder to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, Amnesty International warned that human rights violations could impact world football for years to come. The organization urged FIFA to make binding agreements with Saudi Arabia to protect people from exploitation, discrimination, and repression before finalizing any hosting agreements. Recent cases, such as the sentencing of 12 football fans from the country’s Shia minority for singing folkloric chants, underscore the need for action.

Saudi Aramco, as one of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers, posted record profits last year. Amnesty International cautioned against using income from Aramco to finance or cover up human rights abuses. The organization called on Saudi Arabia to support the transition to renewable energy, emphasizing the importance of phasing out the fossil fuel industry to prevent further climate harms.

Saudi Arabia has invested significantly in sports globally, with the government and sovereign wealth fund owning a majority stake in Saudi Aramco. This ownership makes the company a significant source of income, wealth, and influence. The 2026 men’s World Cup will be hosted in Canada and Mexico while Mexico hosts both men and women world cup soccer tournament in 2030 .