Saudi bid book reveals mega polluting World Cup plans 

In the middle of the summer, with the eyes of sports fans and the media fixed on the Olympics, Saudi Arabia has published its plans in its bid book for the 2034 World Cup.

Amnesty International and other human rights advocates have extensively covered the failure of the bid to meet FIFA’s own human rights requirements. This is no surprise given Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive regimes on earth.

But FIFA is also betraying its own commitments on fighting climate change. Under the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, FIFA has publicly committed to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. A World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia would be another failure of leadership from FIFA. The football world urgently needs serious action to address the danger the climate crisis poses to the sport it is trusted to safeguard, rather than cheap gimmicks like a ‘green card for the planet’

A Saudi World Cup is first and foremost a sportswashing exercise by a state that is committed to slow the world’s urgently needed transition to renewable energy. The Saudis have undermined international climate negotiations and plan to keep developing countries hooked on their oil. Their takeover of global sports and events are meant to protect its reputation, with the help of the world’s biggest PR-firms. With climate breakdown wreaking havoc and its human rights abuses attracting global attention, Saudi Arabia is using sports to distract and prevent backlash against the fossil fueled states quo from which it profits. 

Furthermore, at a time in which the world must drastically reduce emissions, the pollution caused by this tournament will be enormous. The Saudi World Cup would be deeply polluting on the biggest regular sources of pollution at major tournaments, infrastructure construction and fan travel

11 new stadiums will be built, compared to 7 stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With all other infrastructure projects added – hotels, airport expansion etc. – the pollution caused by this tournament from construction will be unlike any other event. The climate impact from flying will also be enormous. FIFA has chosen to expand the World Cup format, meaning fans from 47 teams will fly in. Inside the country, plane travel will also often be the preferred option. To lower emissions from international fan travel, ticket sales could focus on locals. However, in this bid, ticket sales plans are only aimed at maximising revenues. 

This disastrous bid unfortunately stands in a sad tradition. The 2018 World Cup was organised in repressive fossil fuel state Russia, followed by the aforementioned 2022 World Cup in Qatar which was found to mislead fans about its carbon emissions. The 2026 World Cup in Canada, the USA and Mexico will see a huge number of polluting flights because of 16 host cities spread over an enormous territory and 48 participating teams, a sponsorship deal with the world’s biggest polluter Saudi Aramco and a high risk of extreme heat impacting players and fans. The 2030 World Cup has been widely criticised for being organised on tournaments separated by an entire ocean and is also at risk of extreme heat impacting all those attending. 

FIFA needs to urgently break from this tradition. With extreme heat, droughts and floods already impacting football players, fans and football-loving communities around the world, sport must advocate for climate action, rather than be a huge polluter and billboard for dirty corporations and petrostates. FIFA must lead by making  international football fit for the future. That means taking inspiration from its own past. Smaller World Cups hosted in existing, smaller stadiums in a smaller territory with cities well-connected by public transport, with fewer teams and more local fans will make a huge difference.

Frank Huisingh, founder of Fossil Free Football: “If this bid is accepted, FIFA will yet again side with big polluters rather than football fans. Saudi Arabia will use this World Cup to promote its repressive fossil fueled regime. Because of the huge amount of construction and air travel it foresees, it will also be one of the most polluting events humanity has ever seen. It’s up to FIFA and national FAs to reverse course.”


For more, see our briefing: https://www.fossilfreefootball.org/2023/12/05/briefing-saudi-arabia-fifa-and-climate-breakdown/