The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia and it’s safe to say it’s caused a fair bit of controversy. Since the announcement in December 2024, people from around the world have been weighing in on the decision, particularly as 2034 will mark the 25th FIFA World Cup. So, to save the trouble of trawling through multiple articles, we’ve shared our thoughts on exactly why the news is so significant.
One of the biggest reasons the decision for the World Cup to be hosted by Saudi Arabia is such a red flag, is that it has one of the worst human rights records in the world. From gender inequality, no free press, no free speech - the situation in Saudi Arabia is shocking. However, by using the likes of football, golf, and boxing many have said sport is being used to change the image of the country.
Another aspect that has got people riled up is the lack of transparency from FIFA. Decision making is done behind closed doors, with only one bid for each World Cup. If the process was open then whilst Saudi Arabia would always remain a controversial host, it could at least be said that they won the right fairly and legitimately.
Plus, there have been reports that FIFA made false claims surrounding the reduced environmental impact of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Making it unsurprising that Saudi Arabia not only won the bid but that’s it’s also something that has been backed by FIFA too.
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of US dollars into sport over recent years, changing the landscape entirely. Which is all part of a wider plan to diversify the nation’s economic, social and cultural life - as well as positioning Saudi Arabia as one of the worlds leading countries.
The tournament is also set to feature in 11 stadiums, none of which have even been built yet, making this another huge investment for the country. Which makes the likelihood that they’re planning to host future competitions incredibly likely and with that kind of money, how will other countries even be able to stand to compete.