After all, the FIFA World Cup is a sporting competition but a compelling statement of unity, cultural exchange, and international camaraderie. This platform will demonstrate the virtues of inclusiveness, human dignity, and mutual respect for the world’s most popular sporting event. However, the hosting of the Saudi nation in the 2034 FIFA World Cup has been highly controversial because of the country’s unremitted practice of capital punishment for non-violent crimes. The practice is highly unethical and morally wrong in many dimensions, hence luring doubts into principles that the World Cup is meant to depict.
The Role of Capital Punishment in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one of the highest consumer countries of capital punishment in the world. Although some controversies surround its practice in the world, an application in Saudi Arabia makes this different since the state practices a capital punishment act on non-violent crimes in the form of drug trafficking and apostasy in addition to adulterous acts of a sexual nature in some political dissents.
Reports show that Saudi Arabia executed more than 196 people in 2022 alone, and the practice has been increasingly ramped up as evidenced by such numbers, with most of these executions based on convictions over drug-related offenses that could hardly be characterized as violent.
Contradictions against FIFA’s Core Values
This is due to its relationship with its stand on fairness, equality, and respect for human rights in football. FIFA’s statutes banned any form of discrimination strictly and respected the dignity of anyone. This means that the hosting right given by FIFA to Saudi Arabia, a country whose justice system does not practice these principles most of the time, is an attack on FIFA’s moral standing.
For instance, in 2022 when FIFA hosted the World Cup in Qatar, it was accused of crushing protests and social justice movements. The scenario is similar and probably even more dramatic if it hosts the event in Saudi Arabia where systemic abuses of human rights have been going on for some time, such as the criminalizing of dissent.
Saudi Arabia carried out at least 345 executions in 2024, a record and almost double the number of 172 in 2023. This is part of a consistent rise in executions since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took power in 2015 when more than 1,257 people have been executed.
Effects on Players and Fans
Among the fans, journalists, and players attending the World Cup are the people from those countries that starkly oppose the policies of Saudi Arabia. This general tradition of executing people for non-violent offenses creates an atmosphere of fear and tension- deterrents to take part in the World Cup or at least attend the same.
Let’s assume the country whose law can sentence a person to death for certain behavior or beliefs has held the World Cup. Perhaps avid lovers of liberal democracies and LGBTQ+ were not even allowed to enjoy watching the tournament due to knowing well that public expression of affection, and personal lifestyle choices acceptable in one’s home elsewhere, would invite severe penalties in Saudi law.
Human Rights and Public Relations Fallout
The decision to hold the World Cup in Saudi will have deep implications for the reputation of the World Cup. International communities have longed to criticize them for human rights records, most notably, these include the way women are being treated and mistreatment of the migrant workers when political dissents are persecuted in that place.
It might seem that by associating itself with Saudi Arabia, FIFA seems to be embracing such policies and has become an international protest to the tournament. For instance, when FIFA decided to hold the 2018 World Cup in Russia, its move was met with heavy criticism due to neglecting human rights concerns.
Sportswashing Argument
Critics argue that the Saudi Arabian bid for the FIFA World Cup is part of a larger “sportswashing” strategy, using major sporting events to divert attention from controversial policies while prettifying itself to the rest of the world. The ability to host the World Cup will permit Saudi Arabia to present itself as modern and progressive at the same time as it continues to be dependent on practices considered regressive and unfair by many.
Even though the country has done a lot to modernize, including allowing women to drive and relaxing certain social restrictions, its draconian justice system masks most of the efforts. Holding the World Cup would serve as an excuse to divert the attention of the nation from such issues, allowing Saudi Arabia to improve its image without rectifying the deep human rights issues it has.
The Public Investment Fund, controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, manages more than $600 billion in assets and is a key player in these investments, acquiring high-profile sports teams and sponsoring major events.
A Missed Opportunity for Progress
Hosting a world event like the FIFA World Cup comes with severe international scrutiny as well as the opportunity for positive reform. Saudi Arabia’s record did not show the likelihood to make substantive reforms in this case. It has remained in practice for many years, applying capital punishment for non-violent crimes and opposing the global human rights norm.
It will risk squandering the opportunity to call for reforms when FIFA outsourced the World Cup to Saudi Arabia. This will send a dangerous signal but lower the potential of football being used as a means for appropriate change.
Conclusion
In itself, the FIFA World Cup platform is a symbol of unity, justice, and respect for human rights. Such a paradox itself does not allow Saudi Arabian capital punishment issued for the so-called ‘minor’ offenses since the country-host of 2034’s Football World Cup: any issue; from evacuating fans and the players up to the soiled reputation of the FIFA-this case will take bitter consequences.
