Two days before FIFA is set to officially confirm Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 World Cup, the United Nations’ top human rights official pledged on Monday to advocate for the proper respect of migrant labour standards during the tournament preparations.
Saudi Arabia, the sole candidate for the 2034 World Cup, is expected to secure the hosting rights unopposed during an online FIFA meeting on Wednesday.
The kingdom’s plans include constructing eight of the 15 proposed stadiums from scratch and adding 175,000 hotel rooms relying heavily on migrant workers — primarily from South Asia — under a labour framework that human rights groups have criticised for inadequate protections.
On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the issue in a news conference ahead of the UN’s annual Human Rights Day, stating that while his organisation has not been directly engaged by FIFA, it is committed to ensuring human rights are integral to all major sporting events.
“What we are involved in, though, is to make sure that indeed, in each and every major sporting event, human rights are part and parcel of the way that sports events are not only conceived but also conducted,” Türk said.
Concerns of labour abuses
The Saudi World Cup plan has drawn comparisons to Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, which was marred by allegations of widespread labour rights abuses.
Saudi Arabia’s labour practices are already under investigation by the International Labour Organization (ILO) following a formal complaint by trade unions.
Two US senators have also urged FIFA to reconsider awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia, citing ongoing human rights concerns.
Critics have argued that FIFA has failed to leverage its influence to address these issues, despite its president Gianni Infantino’s close ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Türk emphasised the UN’s willingness to provide guidance to tournament organisers, saying, “Whatever the decision is, to whoever is going to organise it, we will provide precisely that type of advice to the organisers. That will include also, of course, the need to make sure that migrant labour standards are properly respected and all the various other human rights dimensions of major sporting events.”
While Saudi Arabia’s bid document includes promises to collaborate with the ILO and domestic agencies, it notably excludes international labour unions and rights groups, which face limited access within the country.
