Saudi Arabia’s $27 Billion Plan for the 2034 World Cup Sparks Human Rights Outcry

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced ambitious plans to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, projecting a staggering expenditure of 100 billion riyals ($27 billion). The massive investment will fund new stadiums, training facilities, and tourism infrastructure but has sparked significant backlash from international human rights organizations over concerns about workers’ rights and systemic abuses.
The Grand Plan
Under the direction of Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia will build 11 out of the 15 proposed stadiums to host matches, with a combined seating capacity exceeding 775,000. Riyadh will see the largest development, with 8 new stadiums, followed by 4 in Jeddah and 1 each in Al Khobar, Abha, and Neom. Additionally, 134 state-of-the-art training facilities will be established to cater to the 48 participating teams, with costs estimated at $2-3 million per center.
To accommodate the anticipated influx of millions of fans, Saudi Arabia plans to add 175,000 hotel rooms across five cities, bringing the total to 232,000 units. Moreover, ten dedicated fan zones will be created, the largest being Riyadh’s King Salman Park, capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators.
These extensive preparations underscore the kingdom’s ambition to use the World Cup to solidify its position as a global sports hub and showcase its Vision 2030 development goals. However, critics argue that this initiative comes at an unacceptable cost to workers, residents, and human rights.
Human Rights Concerns
The decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia has ignited controversy. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Trade Union Confederation, have issued a joint statement warning of “grave risks” to migrant workers and local communities.
Key concerns include:
Worker Exploitation: Reports highlight the systemic abuse of migrant laborers in Saudi Arabia, particularly on large-scale infrastructure projects. Workers face exploitative conditions, wage theft, and unsafe environments that have led to injuries and fatalities.
Forced Evictions: Residents have reportedly been displaced to clear land for state projects, a pattern seen in previous developments like Neom.
Repression of Dissent: Saudi Arabia continues to impose harsh penalties on activists, with lengthy prison sentences for peaceful dissent. Women and marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, face systemic discrimination.
Human Rights Watch criticized FIFA for failing to enforce its own human rights criteria when selecting Saudi Arabia, stating, “The kingdom has shown little willingness to reform its abusive labor system or protect basic freedoms.”
A Broader Strategy?
Critics argue that the World Cup bid is part of a larger strategy by Mohammed bin Salman to improve Saudi Arabia’s global image through “sportswashing”—using major sporting events to distract from its human rights record. In addition to the World Cup, Saudi Arabia has spent billions on hosting international boxing matches, purchasing European football clubs, and launching the controversial LIV Golf league.
While the government touts these investments as opportunities to diversify the economy, human rights advocates stress that economic growth must not come at the expense of fundamental freedoms and labor rights.
Saudi Arabia’s $27 billion plan for the 2034 FIFA World Cup is both a testament to its ambitions and a lightning rod for criticism. As construction begins on new stadiums and infrastructure, the world will watch closely to ensure that workers are protected, dissent is not silenced, and the kingdom meets its obligations to uphold human rights.