Amnesty Calls On FIFA For Transparency And Human Rights Guarantees In World Cup Hosting

- Amnesty International is urging FIFA to prioritize human rights
- Amnesty warns of potential issues with labor rights
- FIFA maintains its commitment
Amnesty International is urging FIFA to prioritize human rights and transparency in selecting hosts for the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cups.
Key Concerns:
Stronger Human Rights Standards: Amnesty’s new report demands “rigorous and transparent” vetting of bids to ensure they uphold human rights. They advocate for terminating agreements if violations occur.
Saudi Arabia’s Bid Raises Red Flags: Amnesty points to Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record as a major concern for their 2034 bid.
Human Rights Risks Persist in 2030 Bid: While less severe, Amnesty warns of potential issues with labor rights, discrimination, and freedom of expression in the joint Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid for 2030.
Environmental Issues: The expanded 48-team format across three continents in 2030 raises concerns about significant greenhouse gas emissions, contradicting FIFA’s climate goals.
Lack of Communication: Amnesty criticizes FIFA’s alleged lack of response regarding consultants involved in human rights assessments.
FIFA’s Response:
FIFA maintains its commitment to upholding human rights and sustainability standards during tournaments.
They claim to follow “sustainable event management” practices and aim to protect children, adults at risk, and respect human rights.
Dialogue with bidders is emphasized to ensure comprehensive bids that address key areas like infrastructure, services, and human rights.