Global: FIFA sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco covering World Cups raises human rights concerns.

Following FIFA's announcement of a four-year worldwide agreement with Saudi Aramco, which will see the state-owned fossil fuel firm sponsor both the women's World Cup in 2027 and the men's World Cup in 2026, Amnesty International's Head of Economic and Social Justice, Steve Cockburn, noted:

Salma al-Shehab and Manahel al-Otaibi are two examples of women who peacefully advocated for gender equality and are still imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. It is a sad irony that a state-owned firm in Saudi Arabia could be deemed suitable to sponsor the Women's World Cup.

“Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s biggest fossil fuel producers, last year posted the largest annual profit ever made by a company of more than US$161 billion. Amnesty International has urged that income from Aramco should not be deployed to finance human rights abuses, cover them up, or try and gloss over them through sports washing.” 

"It is past time that Saudi Arabia acted in the best interests of humanity, backed the fossil fuel industry's phase-out, and contributed to financing a human rights-based transition to renewable energy, which is crucial for averting additional climate damage.”  

Background

Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars in racing, martial arts, football, golf, and other sports across the globe. More than 98% of Saudi Aramco is owned by the Saudi Arabian government and the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund. As a result, the business plays a significant role in generating income, wealth, and influence for the Kingdom through taxes and dividends. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the men's World Cup in 2026. The 2027 women's tournament's venue is still up in the air.