Football Association Justifies Endorsement of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup Hosting Bid

Saudi Arabia is set to become the second Middle Eastern nation, following Qatar, to host a men’s World Cup. According to Debbie Hewitt, chair of the Football Association, the FA’s choice to support Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup was “not difficult” due to “a lot of commitments” provided by the organizers. Football’s global governing body, Fifa, officially confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the men’s tournament on Wednesday. While organizers have affirmed that all individuals will be welcomed, the nation has faced scrutiny regarding its human rights violations, abuses of women’s rights, and the outlawing of homosexuality. Nevertheless, Hewitt informed BBC Radio 5 Live that the English FA conducted “a lot of questions” prior to endorsing the bid. Hewitt further stated, “It wasn’t a difficult decision – I think it was a very thorough process.” She elaborated, “We spent a lot of time with the Saudis, understanding their approach to the tournament. We asked a lot of questions, they gave us a lot of time and they gave us a lot of commitments and I think the important thing is that we will now work with them over the next 10 years leading up to the tournament to make sure that those commitments are delivered – from both sides.” The FA engaged in a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) last month for a more comprehensive discussion of the bid. The FA reported receiving assurances that the SAFF is dedicated to ensuring a secure setting for all attendees, including LGBTQ+ supporters. Hewitt commented, “We were reassured by the answers that we got and think this is about a partnership,” and mentioned that the FA intends to provide organizers with “the right groups to consult with.” She concluded, “A tournament is not just about the host. A tournament is about those who go along and play their part in it and that’s what we want to do.” The 2034 World Cup will mark the second occasion the event is held in the Middle East, following its staging in Qatar in 2022. Saudi Arabia’s global reputation suffered significant harm due to the 2018 assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist known for his outspoken criticism of the government. In a formal statement, Rodney Dixon KC, who previously acted as legal counsel for Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi’s widow, expressed disappointment that the FA, alongside the Scottish and Welsh FAs—which also supported Saudi Arabia’s bid—had “merely followed the crowd” instead of opposing the oil-producing kingdom’s transgressions. Dixon further asserted, “They should reflect on their position and make use of the time before the 2034 World Cup to press for the necessary reforms in country, failing which they should act together with all states that stand for universal human rights to withdraw the tournament from Saudi Arabia.” England coach Thomas Tuchel, while speaking at the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, indicated his support for the FA’s position. He told BBC Radio 5 Live, “The federations made their votes, the decision is done.” Tuchel added, “I am fully behind the statement of the FA, and from there on I think a coach has also the right to be a coach, and players have the right to be players.” Tuchel, who is scheduled to officially assume his role in January, was also questioned regarding the potential relocation of the World Cup to the winter season. The 2022 Qatar World Cup took place between November 20 and December 18, a scheduling choice necessitated by the intense summer heat prevalent in the Middle East. “We just had a meeting with all the other coaches,” Tuchel stated. He continued, “I think there is not a decision made, but the coaches who were on international duty in Qatar were very happy about the winter World Cup because players came in November and December, so not after a tiring season but in the middle of it.” He added, “The football quality in Qatar was very high, so from this point of view everyone was very positive about it, but I don’t know if this is a scenario that can be repeated.” December 2023 saw the Saudi sports minister inform BBC’s Dan Roan that ‘all are welcome’. According to BBC sports editor Dan Roan, the FA has faced considerable pressure to clarify the compatibility of its support for the LGBTQ+ community, expressed through the Rainbow Laces campaign, with its endorsement of a tournament in a nation where homosexuality is prohibited. Furthermore, the FA has been questioned about its decision not to abstain from Wednesday’s official confirmation, unlike Norway. Consequently, the FA is eager to highlight the assurances it states it has obtained from Saudi authorities, guaranteeing that LGBTQ+ supporters will be both welcomed and secure. Nevertheless, some observers might question the basis for such confidence from FA leaders a decade before the event, especially considering the 2022 World Cup in nearby Qatar, where certain fans experienced the confiscation of rainbow-colored items by stadium security personnel, despite Fifa’s prior claims of receiving government assurances against such incidents. It is understood that some senior FA officials harbored concerns about potential accusations of hypocrisy should the governing body decline to support Saudi Arabia yet still desire England’s participation in its World Cup. The FA might also be less inclined to adopt a firm stance, having previously yielded to Fifa’s threats of sporting penalties in Qatar, where it was one of several associations that abandoned intentions for players to wear ‘OneLove’ armbands, which were meant as an anti-discrimination demonstration. Given a prospective joint bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, the British football federations might have been motivated to prevent a disagreement with Fifa. Furthermore, the FA would have been cognizant of Saudi Arabia’s significance to the UK government as a crucial ally in the Middle East, particularly with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the country’s crown prince this week, aimed at bolstering economic relations between the two nations.