The long-term World Cup dream of the rulers of Saudi Arabia is no longer sealed.
The oil country is the only applicant to host the 2034 men’s World Cup tournament. The selection is supposed to be officially confirmed at the Congress of the International Football Association Fifa on Wednesday next week.
Fifa member countries will vote in that virtual meeting whether they accept Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the World Cup. Although the vote is mostly a formality for the only applicant, for example the position of the Swedish Football Association has sparked a heated debate in the western neighbor.
President of the Swedish Football Association Fredrik Reinfeldt told earlierthat the federation supports Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the competition. The announcement aroused widespread criticism in the western neighbor due to, among other things, Saudi Arabia’s weak human rights situation and the vague application process.
– Both the host country and the selection process are as far from the values of Swedish football as you can imagine, the president of the Swedish Football Supporters’ Association Isak Edén comment Fotbollskanalen.
Chairman of the Finnish Football Association Ari Lahten According to this view, Finland also gives its approval to the Saudis hosting the World Cup.
– According to my understanding, all the Nordic countries are basically accepting Saudi Arabia’s candidacy, Lahti told Urheilu on Thursday.
On what basis did you come to such a solution?
– One factor is that Saudi Arabia is the only applicant. Fifa has also assessed that Saudi Arabia’s application meets the minimum requirements that Fifa has set for the World Cup organizers. It is very likely that that application will be approved next week by a large majority, if not even unanimously.
According to Lahti, the matter became clear in the fall in France in connection with the UEFA meeting. The federations of the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Faroe Islands) held a meeting there for more than an hour, to which they also invited the Saudi Arabian competition organizers.
Lahti says that the meeting discussed, among other things, the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, the status of sexual minorities and the treatment of migrant workers. According to the Finnish boss, the race organizers seemed well prepared for the questions.
– It was conveyed from the Saudi delegation that they seriously want to change the things that have troubled us.
– We all know the current situation in Saudi Arabia. The country’s World Cup application is largely based on promises. If they come true, it will certainly be a good thing from a Northern European point of view.
More than 300 executions this year
Numerous human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have demanded that Saudi Arabia’s World Cup project be stopped. Amnesty recently described the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia as grim.
According to human rights organizations, the position of women and sexual minorities in the country is still very weak. Saudi Arabia has executed more than 300 people this year, jailed dissidents and evicted people from their homes to make way for sports mega-projects such as the futuristic Neom city.
In addition, the country is suspected of war crimes in the Yemeni civil war and the crown prince Muhammad bin Salman is a linked editor Jamal Khashoggi murder.
– Of course that sounds bad. A large part of the Saudis’ World Cup application is based on the change they are striving for. It is absolutely impossible to say whether it will come true or not. It is Fifa’s responsibility to ensure that the things promised in the application are also fulfilled, says Lahti.
According to the Finnish football boss, a small improvement has already taken place.
– Now women’s football is played in Saudi Arabia and there are women in the stands. Ten years ago, that would have been an impossible thought. But of course these things and attitudes don’t change in an instant.
Fifa and the lucrative Saudi deal
Along with Saudi Arabia, the International Football Association has also been the subject of fierce criticism. Earlier this year, Fifa signed a lavish sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Aramco. According to estimates, the value of the contract is almost 100 million euros per year.
Aramco, founded in 1965, is the company that produced the most greenhouse gases in the world, and has received a warning from the UN about its operations.
Recently, 130 female soccer players demanded that Fifa end its cooperation with the oil giant.
Critics have accused Fifa of complete indifference. As part of Saudi Arabia’s World Cup application, the international law firm Clifford Chance made a survey of the country’s human rights situation. According to numerous human rights organizations, the survey contained incorrect information and ignored essential topics. Also a partner at Clifford Chance Fahad Abuhimed has worked in several important roles under the Saudi government.
Despite everything, Fifa recently gave Saudi Arabia’s World Cup application the highest ever score of 4.2/5.
What does this say about Fifa’s activities Ari Lahti?
– In the Fifa report, it is strongly pointed out that a large part of the issues that have been investigated in the assessment are all dependent on the promises of the competition organizers. For example, 11 World Cup stadiums that still need to be built. There is significant risk involved. However, if things work out as they have said, the WC facilities will be top notch.