The football association FIFA has awarded the 2034 Men’s Football World Cup to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is governed autocratically and is criticized for massive human rights violations within the country. There is concern that labor rights violations may occur during the construction projects for the World Cup.

Daniel Freund, Vice-Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament (DARP), comments:

“The 2034 World Cup has been awarded to a football-loving country. This provides an opportunity to promote cultural exchange and the promotion of human rights in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, there is a significant risk that the autocratic regime in Saudi Arabia will use the World Cup merely for sportswashing — attempting to overshadow existing human rights violations in the country with football euphoria. Furthermore, it is feared that this World Cup could become a death trap for thousands of migrant workers in the country. Awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia must not serve as a blank check for the royal family. EU countries must make it clear that the participation of their national teams is conditional upon the adherence to human rights in the country. If labor or human rights are systematically violated leading up to the World Cup, all EU countries should boycott this World Cup.”