Earlier today, it became clear that Australia no longer wanted to organize the tournament eleven years ago. This made Saudi Arabia, which is criticized by human rights organizations, the only competitor. Human Rights Watch said in its initial response that this was a “disgrace.” The organization points to human rights violations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the lack of freedom of the press, and discrimination against gay people.
An Amnesty International spokesperson said Saudi Arabia must submit a presentation before July 2024 outlining how the country deals with human rights. “Only if all of this is true, can Saudi Arabia win the World Cup,” the spokesman said. “At least, that’s how it should be.”
‘Extended consultations’
Infantino says the FIFA Council had already formally approved the allocation “after constructive and extensive consultations”, something that was in fact not expected until later. He added: “Thank you to everyone who contributed to this.”
Last year the World Cup was with Qatar also in the Middle East. In three years, the next world championships will be in Canada, Mexico and the United States. In 2030, the footballers will play in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while the first three matches will be held in South America. “This makes football truly global,” Infantino says of the fact that five continents will be visited in the coming years.
Amnesty International is not happy with this announcement. “If you hear it that way, it means the race is already over for him. That’s not the case for us,” the spokesman says. “It’s Infantino’s well-known arrogance.”
Football Federation Australia director James Johnson said the federation had decided to withdraw its offer after “considering all factors”. Australia is now focusing on hosting the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the Club World Cup in 2029.
