Reacting to FIFA’s four-year global partnership deal with Saudi Aramco, making the state-owned fossil fuel company a sponsor of the 2026 men’s World Cup as well as the Women’s World Cup in 2027, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice Steve Cockburn said: “There is a cruel irony that a Saudi Arabian state-owned company should be considered fit to sponsor the Women’s World Cup when women like Salma al-Shehab and Manahel al-Otaib remain imprisoned in the Kingdom for peacefully speaking out for gender equality. “With Saudi Arabia also currently being the sole bidder to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, world football could be dogged by human rights violations for years to come unless urgent action is taken to address the country’s atrocious human rights record.
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