FIFA recently announced a four-year global partnership deal with Saudi Aramco, a state-owned fossil fuel company. This partnership will make Saudi Aramco a sponsor of the 2026 men’s World Cup as well as the Women’s World Cup in 2027. In response to this news, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice, Steve Cockburn, expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
Cockburn highlighted the imprisonment of women such as Salma al-Shehab and Manahel al-Otaibi in Saudi Arabia for peacefully advocating for gender equality. He also raised the issue of the country’s bid to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, calling for urgent action to address Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Amnesty International is urging FIFA to create binding agreements with Saudi Arabia to protect people from exploitation and discrimination before finalizing any hosting agreements.
Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers, has faced criticism for its role in financing the country’s human rights abuses. Amnesty International stressed that income from Aramco should not be used to cover up or gloss over these abuses through sports washing. The organization called on Saudi Arabia to support the phasing out of the fossil fuel industry and transition to renewable energy to prevent further climate harm.
Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in sports globally, including golf, football, motorsports, and martial arts. The government and the Public Investment Fund, its sovereign wealth fund, own over 98% of Saudi Aramco. This makes the company a major source of income, wealth, and influence for the Kingdom. While the 2026 men’s World Cup will be held in North America