Saudi Arabia set to be confirmed as hosts of 2034 FIFA World Cup - despite human rights concerns

Saudi Arabia is set to be confirmed as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

The decision will be announced by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino today (December 11) after five years of campaigning by the Kingdom, and despite fierce opposition from human rights campaigners, climate activists and even some football associations. Infantino has succeeded in his campaign to usher the tournament to the country meaning that an online video congress between delegates from 211 countries on December 11 will not contain a vote; instead, those present will simply be informed of the decisions the Daily Mirror reports.

FIFA announced in October that the 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco - but in a bizarre twist the opening three matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, with the South American leg of the tournament a nod to the inaugural 1930 World Cup on what will be its 100-year anniversary. But following a three continent World Cup, the expanded 48-team tournament four years later will go to Saudi Arabia in its entirety, where a host of top stars including Cristiano Ronaldo now playing club football in the country's Pro League.

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The Saudi tournament is likely to be played over 38 days from the start of January 2034 to avoid a clash with the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan in November and December, with FIFA’s official evaluation report of their bid awarding the country a record score of 419.8/500 and deeming it to be 'medium risk' on human rights and timing and 'low risk' on sustainability commitment and environmental protection. Saudi Arabia has already hosted the 2023 Club World Cup and FIFA have a lucrative sponsorship deal with Saudi state-owned oil giant Aramco.

If their application to become hosts is given the green light it will see 11 new stadiums built in the Kingdom and a further four refurbished, with five host cities spanning the length and breadth of the country. Riyadh will host the opening and final matches at the King Salman Stadium, which will be able to accommodate over 92,000 spectators once complete.

As well as sustainability fears there are also concerns from the LGBTQ community with same-sex relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia and are punishable by the death penalty, unlimited prison terms, flogging, fines and forced deportation. Josh Cavallo, the first top-flight footballer to come out told the Daily Mirror that he "wouldn't feel safe" playing in a Saudi World Cup, adding: "It's so sad to say that but even in my football career, there's certain countries I will not go to and play my club football or play with the national team in.

"At the end of the day, it comes to a point where it's your livelihood over your job which for me is incredibly sad because this is what I do, I wake up and I breathe football, this is what I'm made for. To know that I'm limited and stuck in certain countries because they don't approve of how I love or how I live my life is quite saddening. I wouldn't want to be entering a space like that at the moment. There's a lot of improvement that needs to happen before I consider that."

Whilst the rights of workers is also a concern, with a statement from Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of labour rights and sport saying: "There will be a real and predictable human cost to awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without obtaining credible guarantees of reform."

Reclaim the Game add: "Fans will face discrimination, migrant workers will face exploitation, and many will die. FIFA must halt the process until proper human rights protections are in place to avoid worsening an already dire situation. As football fans, we are in full agreement with this statement."