The men’s championships were clubbed via acclamation, without a formal vote, at the Digital Extraordinary Congress.
The criticism has been partly about Saudi Arabia, a country that is criticized for a lack of human freedoms and rights, and partly about how the process for selecting candidates has gone. There were no counter-candidates for any of the championships.
Norway said ahead of the vote that it would abstain in protest against the allocation process, which it says goes against Fifa’s own reforms.
— The allocation process has been offensive, said Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Association.
Sweden voted yes to the WC in Saudi Arabia
However, the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) said at the end of November that it intended to vote yes to the World Cup in Saudi Arabia if nothing unforeseen appears in Fifa’s evaluation report before the congress.
— I have received the answers I have requested from Saudi Arabia, said chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt.
The Swedish stance has received criticism, including from national team star Kosovare Asllani who, in connection with the latest national team gathering at the beginning of December, said that she wanted to see a Swedish blank vote.
— Firstly, it is very strange that there is only one country to vote for. Then we have different opinions about where it should be held, said Asllani.
“A Punch in the Face”
On Wednesday, the Players’ Association also hands out bitter criticism of SvFF’s stance towards Saudi Arabia.
“A slap in the face to everyone who fought for human freedoms and rights,” writes the general secretary Magnus Erlingmark on the association’s website.
SvFF chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt defends the union’s position after, together with the Nordic unions, having had a meeting with the Saudis.
— I met the Saudi delegation and said that I understand that we have differences in terms of governance and partly also views on human rights and freedoms, Reinfeldt said.
— We have particularly emphasized the importance of them respecting the right of same-sex couples to come there and join in the festivities. In all these questions, Saudi Arabia replied that they will respect them.
Reinfeldt said “these issues have been extremely important” to him.
— We have great respect for those who have been concerned. We base our yes on what Saudi Arabia has answered to the questions I just mentioned. This applies to both the WC 2030 and 2034.
How will the World Cup be in Saudi Arabia?
A World Cup in Saudi Arabia would not be complete without stadiums that capture one’s attention.
An arena that is planned to be built in the city of Neom in Saudi Arabia will be built 350 meters up in the air. The city of Neom does not exist yet, but there are plans to build it. The arena will look like the following:
The planned arena in Neom. Photo: Instagram/timeoutjeddah
The arena ii Qiddiya Coast will be designed with effects similar to a Mexican wave. The image below shows how the arena is planned to look.
Photo: Instagram/timeoutjeddah
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