Senators challenge FIFA over Saudi Arabia's World Cup bid amid human rights concerns
- Two US senators have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's record on human rights in a letter to FIFA.
- They claim that approving the Saudi bid would endanger various stakeholders and contradict FIFA's own standards.
- The senators urge FIFA to choose a host country with a better record on upholding human rights.
In Geneva, two United States senators, Ron Wyden and Dick Durbin, expressed their concerns regarding Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup in a letter directed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The senators highlighted the kingdom's persistent human rights violations, including torture of dissidents, extrajudicial killings, discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, oppression of women and religious minorities, and exploitation of foreign workers. They stated that granting Saudi Arabia the hosting rights would pose risks to workers, athletes, tourists, and the media, contradicting FIFA's own human rights policies. The senators called for FIFA to reconsider its decision and select a country that respects human rights, emphasizing the need for FIFA to uphold its commitment to these values in the face of significant issues associated with the Saudi bid.