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FIFA Bends Own Rules to Gift Saudi Arabia Coveted 2034 World Cup

The article from The New York Times, published on December 10, 2024, discusses Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup and the associated human rights concerns. It highlights the international scrutiny on Saudi Arabia's human rights record, including issues like freedom of expression, women's rights, and the treatment of migrant workers. Critics argue that hosting such a high-profile event could be used as a form of "sportswashing" to improve the country's image. Despite these concerns, Saudi officials have promised significant investments in infrastructure and have committed to reforms aimed at addressing some of these human rights issues. The article also mentions FIFA's guidelines on human rights for host countries, and how Saudi Arabia's bid is being evaluated in light of these standards. Additionally, there is mention of the potential economic benefits for Saudi Arabia, including tourism and global visibility, juxtaposed with the ongoing debate about the ethics of awarding the World Cup to nations with controversial human rights records.

Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
[ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/10/world/middleeast/saudi-world-cup-human-rights.html ]