December 2 – FIFA World Cup bid evaluation report has, remarkably, awarded Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup the joint highest bidding score ever. Human rights groups, however, have slammed FIFA for “whitewashing” the country’s human rights record and called out glossing over environmental concerns.
November 28 – Following in the footsteps of the two US senators, Daniel Freund and Niels Fuglsang, Members of the European Parliament have sounded the alarm bell over FIFA and a 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
November 27 – With just weeks until FIFA formally award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, ITUC Africa and other leading trade unions have sounded the alarm bell over the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia with a complaint at the United Nations.
November 26 – Two United States senators have urged FIFA not to pick Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup host because of the country’s human rights record.
November 8 – Following in the footsteps of a clamour of rights groups, Human Rights Watch has warned that a 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia risks widespread labour abuse.
November 6 – Saudi giga-project developer ROSHN has opened prequalification for a contract to build a new stadium adjacent to the National Guard facilities in southwest Riyadh as Saudi looks to gear up preparations for the 2034 World Cup, with their status as hosts all but announced.
November 4 – News that the human rights report prepared by law firm Clifford Chance for the Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup bid was deliberately limited in its scope, with the agreement of FIFA, has cast a dark shadow over the report’s independence and bias.
November 4 – Norwegian football boss Lise Klaveness has raised concerns over FIFA’s bidding process for the 2034 World Cup and called out the voting procedure.
October 29 – Human rights organisations have called out Clifford Chance for a “poor” assessment of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup, warning the law firm of the risk that it could be linked to human rights abuses which could result from the tournament.
October 24 – World governing body FIFA is again under fire following the accusation by trade union Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) that it is refusing to engage on human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia, defying its own human rights obligations.
10 October 2024 – The Saudi Arabian bid team for the World Cup 2034 have made a point of expanding horizons and cultural connections. Their latest initiative takes them into world of comic books and a special edition manga, Japan’s iconic style of comic-book art.
September 20 – The Danish FA (DBU) has said it is not concerned by Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup, citing the abolishment of the kafala system in the Arab Kingdom and the assurance of beer sales during the tournament.
August 20 – Amnesty International has demanded the Dutch FA, the KNVB, and professional clubs take a stance over the hosting of the 2034 World Cup that is set to be awarded to Saudi Arabia later this year.
August 8 – Rights group Fossil Free Football has called Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup plans ‘mega polluting’ after FIFA released the country’s bid book last week.
August 2 – Saudi Arabia is planning major stadium construction with eight new venues to be built as part of the plan to deliver the 2034 World Cup.