WC 2034: High rating for Saudi Arabia as a potential host

source: StadiumDB.com; author: Paulina Skóra

WC 2034: High rating for Saudi Arabia as a potential host FIFA has published a report evaluating Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup, giving the country a higher score on bidding requirements than the winning bid for the 2026 edition, while also classifying the human rights risk assessment as "medium."

Advertisement

Another winter World Cup?

FIFA also stated in its report that there is good potential for the tournament to act as a catalyst for reforms in Saudi Arabia, saying it could contribute to positive outcomes in human rights. Amnesty International described FIFA's observations as a stunning whitewash of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

The report also highlighted that the oil-rich country’s bid demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability. However, it acknowledged that the Saudi bid carries elevated risks regarding scheduling due to the country's climate. FIFA, which usually organizes the men’s World Cup in June and July, said the bidder did not specify a proposed date for the tournament but committed to collaboration, suggesting a possible repeat of the 2022 Qatar edition held during winter months.

Design of Aramco Stadium© Populous | Design of Aramco Stadium

The highest score in history?

FIFA evaluates World Cup bids on a five-point scale and awarded Saudi Arabia’s bid a score of 4.2, higher than the 4.0 given to North America’s successful bid for 2026. For the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Brazil's winning bid received a score of 4.0, while the rejected joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany received a score of 3.7. Almost immediately after the report’s publication, reports emerged that Saudi Arabia’s bid received the highest score in FIFA World Cup bidding history.

Design of King Fahd Sports City© Ministry Of Sport | Design of King Fahd Sports City

How does FIFA rate stadium infrastructure?

Stadiums received a score of 4.1, despite eight of the 15 proposed venues for the tournament being new constructions. FIFA noted that this presents a somewhat elevated risk profile. Due to the overall scale of stadium projects as well as the innovative designs and configurations proposed in some cases, there is an elevated risk profile, FIFA said. It added that the risk was mitigated because Saudi Arabia has a strong team and ample time to complete the projects.

The [Saudi] bid includes ambitious stadium projects integrated into unique locations, such as the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium within the Qiddiya complex and the Neom Stadium located in the 'The Line' settlement, the FIFA report stated. It added that while Saudi Arabia’s unique stadium designs have great potential, the proposed configuration and location would require reimagining operations, with certain unknowns or challenges at this stage.

Neom, an urban and industrial development on the Red Sea almost the size of Belgium and planned to house nearly nine million people, is a central feature of Crown Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 plan to create new engines of economic growth beyond oil. However, some projects have had to be scaled back due to rising costs, including The Line, a futuristic city between mirrored walls stretching 170 km (106 miles) into the desert in Neom. As such, if the bid is approved, close monitoring and support of these projects will be necessary from inception to completion, FIFA added.

Design of King Salman International Stadium© Populous | Design of King Salman International Stadium

FIFA overlooks human rights "shortcomings"?

The report stated that its assessment took into account various sources, including the bidder’s human rights strategy, a commissioned contextual assessment, as well as direct commitments from the host country and host cities, and all contractual documents related to the event organization, all of which specifically include provisions regarding respect for human rights in connection with the tournament.

However, The Athletic revealed that 11 organizations — including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Saudi diaspora organization, and Gulf-focused human rights groups — raised serious concerns about the credibility of FIFA’s report titled Independent Context Assessment Prepared for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in Connection with the FIFA World Cup 2034.

The independent context assessment, conducted by the Saudi branch of global law firm Clifford Chance, excluded numerous internationally recognized human rights from its evaluation, stating that this was because Saudi Arabia has not ratified the relevant treaties or because the Saudi Football Federation did not consider them 'applicable' to the assessment. This allowed the avoidance of issues that many would consider critical for Saudi Arabia, especially concerning freedom of expression, association and assembly, discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals, the prohibition of union formation, the right to freedom of religion, and forced evictions. The report stated that the scope of the assessment was determined by the Saudi Football Federation in consultation with FIFA, suggesting that FIFA itself approved these omissions.

King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Al-Jawhara Stadium© King Abdullah Sports City Jeddah | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (Al-Jawhara Stadium)

Decision soon

Votes to confirm the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are set to take place at FIFA's Congress on December 11, even though each tournament has only one bid. Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder for 2034, while the joint bid from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal is the only one for 2030.

Advertisement