Saudi Arabia's World Cup hosting reignites debate over its human rights records

A picture taken with a fisheye lens on January 11, 2020, shows Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Sports City stadium in the port city of Jeddah. AFP-Yonhap

Controversy surrounding Saudi Arabia’s violation of human rights is resurfacing across the globe after the country became the de facto host for the 2034 World Cup, according to human rights groups and news media outlets, Thursday.

Major international media outlets have stepped up criticism of the country for its repeated violation of human rights and freedom of speech. The country was criticized by the international community after executing 81 men in one day in March 2022.

According to data from Amnesty International, a non-governmental human rights organization, Saudi Arabia executed 65 people in 2021, but the figure surged to 196 the following year.

Many consider that the government of the Middle Eastern country is "sportswashing" its image by hosting multiple global events, such as the World Cup and the World Expo.

There stands a possibility that the country may lose voters, particularly from developed nations in Europe for its ongoing bid to host World Expo 2030.

“The reigniting dispute over Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses may come as a bane for its intention to become a host country of the upcoming Expo,” an official from Korea’s business circle said.

“The country recently won the status as the next World Cup host nation, so chances are more countries will think it is somewhat unfair for the country to host the two big international events twice in such a short space of time.”

Visitors to an event venue to promote Busan's bid for the World Expo 2030 are seen in this file photo taken in Paris, Oct. 10. The event was co-hosted by Korea's second-largest city and SK Group. Yonhap

The outlook bodes well for Korea’s southern port city of Busan which is one of the strongest contenders to host the World Expo 2030.

The Korean government and big conglomerates are going all-out to support Busan’s bid for the upcoming international exhibition. The final vote for the Expo host will be made via secret ballot in Paris on Nov. 28.

Korea is making last-ditch efforts to attract more countries to the Busan bid.

The official went on to say that Korea’s difficulties in promoting Busan as the host city for the upcoming Expo has been alleviated after Saudi Arabia became the host of the 2034 World Cup.

“Typically, a single country does not host major international events successively,” he said. “Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup is already causing controversies due to what appears to be the country’s attempt to cover up its human rights violation through sports. The negative sentiment will affect the upcoming decision by member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) when they vote for the next Expo host country later this month.”

According to data from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, the hosting of World Expo 2030 in Busan would generate production worth 61 trillion won ($45.4 billion) and create more than 500,000 jobs here.