#FIFA World Cup 2034

[global-newz]

Saudi Real Estate Giant ROSHN Kicks Off Tender Process for 'National Guard Stadium' in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's leading real estate developer, ROSHN, has initiated the first stage of the tender process for a monumental stadium project located next to the National Guard facilities in southwestern Riyadh. This stadium, designed to accommodate up to 46,000 spectators, is a key part of the country's ambitious preparations for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with Saudi Arabia's position as the host nation nearly confirmed.

The prequalification notice for the contract was issued by the Italian Trade & Investment Agency, with submissions due by October 22. This marks the beginning of a significant infrastructure development initiative, aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals.

The stadium, set to cover over 450,000 square meters, will not only serve as a major venue for the World Cup but will also feature cutting-edge sustainable design elements, such as solar panels and systems for efficient water and energy management. Plans for the facility also include additional spaces such as training academy offices, two hotels, and retail and dining outlets, all designed to enhance the overall experience for visitors and players alike.

As part of Saudi Arabia's broader plan to establish itself as a global sports destination, this new stadium is just one component of a larger infrastructure initiative that includes the development of 11 new stadiums across the nation, including eight in Riyadh and additional venues in cities like Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha, and Neom. The bid also encompasses 134 training sites spread across 15 cities, ensuring widespread regional engagement during the World Cup.

With Saudi Arabia's bid officially launched last year and Australia's withdrawal from the competition, the Kingdom’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup is expected to be officially confirmed by FIFA on December 11 during an online congress.

This massive project, spearheaded by ROSHN and supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), will play a pivotal role in enhancing the Kingdom's sports infrastructure as part of its Vision 2030 strategy to elevate Saudi Arabia’s profile on the global stage.

[kazifatagar]

Australia Revives Plans to Bid for 2034 World Cup

The Aussies’ bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup is back on the agenda, with Football Australia pushing for it after the successful Women’s World Cup. While a bid had been discussed earlier, incidents like the deadly stadium disaster in Indonesia and controversy surrounding Israel’s involvement in the U-20 World Cup disrupted earlier plans. Social Media Links Follow us…

[humanrightsupdates]

Saudi Arabia: Flawed Assessment of World Cup Bid

Law Firm at Risk of Being Linked to Abuses

(New York) – A flawed human rights assessment of Saudi Arabia’s FIFA 2034 World Cup bid by AS&H Clifford Chance, part of the global partnership of London-based law firm Clifford Chance, leaves the global firm at risk of being linked to abuses which result from the tournament, 11 organizations, including Human Rights Watch, said today.

AS&H Clifford Chance, which is based in Riyadh and sits within Clifford Chance’s integrated global partnership, produced an “independent human rights context assessment” that was published by FIFA. The assessment has helped pave the way for Saudi Arabia to be confirmed as 2034 hosts on December 11, 2034. But it contains no substantive discussion of extensive and relevant abuses in Saudi Arabia, documented by multiple human rights organizations and UN bodies, and has formed the basis of Saudi Arabia’s human rights strategy for the tournament, which was described by Amnesty International as a “whitewash.”

The 11 organizations, which include a Saudi Arabian diaspora organization, Gulf human rights groups, and labor organizations, as well as Football Supporters Europe, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, wrote to Clifford Chance’s Global Managing Partner, setting out in detail all the concerns in a statement and inviting the authors to publish an updated report. The firm, which says that it works in partnership with “some of the world’s leading NGOs and civil society organizations,” said in response that it would be “inappropriate” to offer any further comment on the report and shared a link to publicly available company policies.

“It has been clear for more than a year now that FIFA is determined to remove all potential obstacles to make sure it can hand Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the 2034 World Cup,” said James Lynch, co-director of the FairSquare human rights organization, which led the joint approach to the law firm. “By producing a shockingly poor report, AS&H Clifford Chance, part of one of the world’s largest law firms that makes much of its human rights expertise, has helped to remove a key final stumbling block

[elishamanning]

looking past inevitable 2034 world cup in saudi arabia, who hosts in 2038? asia, europe, africa, and south america would be prevented under current rules. i don’t think anywhere in oceania even comes close to meeting the criteria to host a world cup, even if they bid as a collective. north america would be eligible again, but with usa/mexico/canada having just hosted in 2026, there also wouldn’t really be any “new” countries available to host without MAJOR stadium investments.

so would some combination of canada/usa/mexico host again 12 years later in 2038? or is this just going to pave the way for fifa abandoning the 12-year restriction on confederations hosting world cups?

[probayern]

Why can't south america bid? what rules? what's going on???

currently when a country from a certain federation (like uefa [europe], conmebol [south america], caf [africa]) hosts the world cup, no other country from that federation can host the next two world cups. for example, since qatar hosted in 2022, no member of the asian federation could host 2026 or 2030. or since russia hosted 2018, no uefa member could host 2022 or 2026

so as a result, since north america is hosting 2026 and countries from europe, africa, AND south america are hosting 2030, only countries from asia and oceania will be eligible to bid for 2034. i assume the bids for 2034 will be saudi arabia and australia, who are both (as @elishamanning reminded me) members of the asian federation. no matter which one gets it (cough probably saudi), 2038 will be interesting because then only north america and oceania will be able to bid, and there's not really an obvious country in there who could feasibly host besides the us, canada, or mexico, who are all hosting in 2026 and therefore probably won't want to do it again. tldr expect fifa to change their own rules when it is convenient for them (after 2034 has already been awarded to saudi)

[samuelwood]

Hearts and Minds of Sport, Broken and Infected

Arguably the best ever football player in history, signing for Al Nassr. A momentous day for Saudi Arabia, with elegance and history gracing the Saudi Pro League. A king crowned, a scoring sovereign, a cultured prince turned sultan bringing millions of fans to spectate the Knight of Najd. What did it take? A murdered journalist?

Boxing brilliance, an underdog story and a thrilling rematch in the works. Fans worldwide anticipating the much-wanted sequel; will it happen in the UK, the famous York Hall, or Madison Square Gardens, two boxing venues cloaked in long standing chronicles. Or maybe the very ‘historic’ Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia, constructed in 2019 to host the rematch. What did it take? $6 billion spent on sports deals?

18th December 2022; the World Cup final, two Nations ingrained with success, battling to lift the most prestigious international competition in history. One side hoping to repeat a previous triumph; another led by one of the most decorated players in football, aspiring to discover the missing trophy in his cabinet, a hidden treasure buried in the sand. The potential to be the most-watched game ever. What did it take? A corruption scandal deep within FIFA and rigged awarding of hosting the World Cups?

Three major events that won the hearts of fans worldwide, and that is how soft power really catches you.

The Evolution of Soft Power - Deception in motion

Did you ever question the reasoning of Russia and Qatar being awarded the World Cups in 2018 and 2022? Or Saudi Arabia in 2034; another tournament that will pause seasons across the globe to accommodate the harsh and scorching weather in the Middle East? As football fans, we must accept these conditions to roister the beautiful game. Nonetheless, it’s not just football that decisions are made against the will of athletes and the fans. The 2022 Winter Olympics hosted by China, a nation with a horrible human rights record, hosting a worldwide mega event. Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup will undoubtedly move eyes away from the 6500 migrant workers who died since the Middle Eastern nation were ‘awarded’ the competition. As Sohail Mamood declared, ‘Qatar’s Soft Power won the World Cup’. Expert Rothna Begum, the Senior Women's Rights Researcher at the Human Rights Watch, states 'look at the way in which the Kalafa system exists, it creates all sorts of abuses.' She further went on to say that 'from the very beginning, when migrant workers are recruited into the country, they are not supposed to be paying fees, but the vast majority of migrant workers were paying thousands of dollars to be able to come to Qatar for a job'.

Let's delve deeper into the issue. What exactly is ‘Soft Power’? The term was coined and popularised by Joseph Nye in the late 1980s, and went on to define the post-Cold War era. Nye explains ‘Soft Power’ as the ability to shape the preferences for others, with countries resting primarily on three resources; its culture, its political values and its foreign policies. Whilst in contrast to hard power, a technique that would usually involve strategies including strong military force and economic sanctions, soft power appears a lot more positive. Soft power wants to use persuasion to achieve foreign policy objectives and communicate compelling narratives.

Despite the term only appearing in the last half century, Soft Power has been prevalent since before the Second World War. The 1936 Berlin Olympics was hosted by Nazi Germany, and it became a powerful propaganda tool for Nazi Germany as it tried to make its brutal treatment of Jews, political opponents and others seem benign. Hitler organised for six gymnasiums and other small arenas to be built, alongside a 100,000 seater track and field stadium, historically known as the ‘Olympistadion’; which recently hosted the 2024 Euros final between Spain and England. The 1936 Olympics was marred with Nazi imagery, with swastikas hung on buildings and Nazi salutes during medal ceremonies. As Andrew Nagorski wrote about in his book ‘Hitlerland’, the ‘Fuhrer uch Reichskanzler’ saw the 1936 Olympic games as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy and anti-semitism. Germany topped the medal charts with a whopping 38 golds and 101 total medals, indicating how soft power and a sprinkle of corruption can make spectators believe how good you are perceived to be.

Just two years before the Berlin games, a similar event of Soft Power took place in Italy, as Mussolini’s Italy hosted the second ever World Cup. The 1930s was a decade of fascism in Europe, and Mussolini fired a huge propaganda campaign with the promotion of football as a patriotic symbol of their superiority. In addition to the fascist ideology communicated by Italy during the World Cup, Mussolini really wanted to flex Italy’s muscles as a powerful country by winning the final. Other big nations taking part boosted popularity, but a predictable Italy ‘win’ uplifted their reputation; despite certain rumours of corruption favouring the host nation, including on-field fights and illegible players…

So, soft power has been utilised for a long time. Over the course of around 100 years, you could imagine us as sports fans would catch on to the idea of soft power, and eliminate the operators. Has 21st century elite sports learnt anything about the dynamics of soft power? 

The awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar blew up in the faces of FIFA as backlash was rife; especially in the media. FairSquare issued a statement to Gianni Infantino, informing him to take a ‘proactive’ stance on migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. If you try and search about the Qatar World Cup, the search results lead to many top publications criticising the hosting of the World Cup, all the controversies and FIFA. So how did Qatar achieve this event, and how did their soft power win in front of everyone's faces? 

Search results regarding the Qatar World Cup

Sportswashing - Wipe away the Corruption

After watching and enjoying the 2022 World Cup, what is the most memorable moment? That Mbappe final hat-trick, Messi winning his first ever World Cup, or, for us England fans, Harry Kane blasting a penalty over the bar to see us lose to France in the quarter-finals. This is what the Qatar World Cup will be remembered for, not the horrific abusive labour practices and human rights violations. Qatar, a nation with a very little football history, became the first Country to host and qualify for a World Cup without ever playing in one previously. As their team lined up on the 20th November 2022, Ecuador promptly washed them away with two first-half goals to eventually win 2-0. Qatar never wanted to do well at the World Cup. It's not about results on the pitch, it's about their reputation.

The original use of ‘sportswashing’ and who coined it has been hard to pin, yet it has been snowballing in popularity in the last two decades. Sportswashing - the act of aligning with with an athlete, sports team, or event in order to distract from unethical practises elsewhere - was first thought to be associated with Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympics, with China hoping to distract from their human right’s violations.

For the gulf nation, the rush to host a World Cup was to establish an image as a global powerhouse, and to fulfil the ideology of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-thani, the emir of Qatar, by economically developing the country. However, the movement of money crashed against a wall of controversy. Being the smallest ever country to host a World Cup, Qatar had to invest heavily to ensure everyone would remember Qatar  as the Country who organised an amazing event, made even better by the exciting footballing moments. Forbes estimates Qatar splashed well over $200 billion on the World Cup, from new elite hotels, airport renovation, upgrades to public transport all over the country and eight new, grand spanking stadiums to watch corrupted football. Qatar’s reputation certainly skyrocketed with the World Cup, but for the wrong reasons. During the building of this luxury infrastructure, the Guardian reported that workers were forced into labour, a form of modern slavery. Workers were being forced to live in unsanitary and overcrowded accommodation, with some workers alleging they were not being paid and not allowed to return back home. The Supreme Committee, the organising body associated with the World Cup, announced they were ‘deeply concerned’ with the allegations, and an investigation was being conducted. However, we all know it was their plan in the first place.

The day Lionel Messi lifted the golden World Cup trophy, iconically wearing a black robe, a ‘bischt’ in Qatari culture, over 6500 migrant workers had been murdered for that moment. Of the over 1.5 billion spectators that watched the World Cup final between Argentina and France, I wonder how many were questioning the ethical nature of the competition. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-thani handed Messi the bischt, with blood on his hands.

It wasn’t just the years leading up to the tournament, even at the beginning of the 2022 World Cup, there was controversy around the Middle Eastern’s law when it came to homosexuality. The ‘Islamic Sharia Law’ forbids same-sex relations and there were big questions about the safety of the LGBTQ+ community leading into this global event. How are you supposed to host a World Cup and omit an entire minority based on their sexuality? For FIFA, mega events like the World Cup can be seen as opportunities to move forward as a society, especially in regards to the safety given to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Josh Cavallo, an Australia U20 international, came out as gay in October 2021, becoming the first top flight footballer to do so. Cavallo stated he felt ‘excluded’ and ‘disappointed in FIFA’ for letting Qatar host the World Cup.

However, the worst was yet to come on this issue. Following numerous questions about the safety of gay people in Qatar, FIFA president Gianni Infantino came out with a humorous press conference protecting Qatar; in which he said ‘he felt gay’, trying to emulate the emotional feelings of gay people surrounding issues with the World Cup. To top it all off, Infantino said he felt ‘disabled’ and he felt like ‘a migrant worker’. 

Despite all of the negativity around the World Cup, it will still be remembered as the tournament when Messi finally won. The minds of the public and fans are thinking about results, and not what happens behind the scenes. 

It's not just nations that are sportswashing. Companies are sports washing and it is appearing everywhere, especially in the Premier League. The pinnacle of English football is guilty, and in ways that you may not expect. Most recently, Newcastle United were taken over by a Saudi-led consortium in 2021, with the reigns being taken off Mike Ashley, who left St. James’ Park and took his Sports Direct advertising with him. When former Director of Newcastle, Amanda Stavely, was asked about Saudi Arabia’s human rights concerns, she stated they took the records ‘very seriously’, but reiterated the takeover was not a Saudi state, but a Public Investment Fund.

Human Rights expert Rothna Begum commented that 'It's incredibly concerning the way in which governments of regions that have terrible human rights records are buying up sports teams, and getting involved this way through sportswashing efforts.' She added 'its difficult for that sports team to talk about it (sportswashing), its difficult for those fans to condemn this government, when they are financing their favourite football team'.

The Premier League first denied the takeover due to the Saudi involvement, but in 2021, the Premier League released a statement in which they confirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control the club. Nevertheless, the Saudi state does not control Newcastle United, but since the takeover, they have been happy to splash the cash on transfers on players like Tonali, Isak and Gordon. This sportswashing act is even more hidden than others. After the years of hurt under Mike Ashley, the ‘Saudi’ private investment fund spent a load of money and hurled Newcastle into the Champions League. I wonder what the opinion of Newcastle fans will be over Saudi Arabia, as they walk away with an improved reputation and another successful sportswashing scheme. 

In the hearts and minds of Newcastle fans, they know it's wrong, however, they can’t help but love the success.

Greenwashing - The cost of being environmentally ethical

As sportswashing was on the rise, a different type of washing was always prevalent, but not always in the sporting world. ‘Greenwashing’ is when companies use PR tactics to appear environmentally friendly, without ever doing the hard work to reduce their environmental impact. The term was coined back in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westerveld and features in sports more than you think. Major climate polluters have been accused of sportswashing, in numerous different sports. Manchester City released a ‘greener’ transport and travel way for fans to get to games in a ‘greener’ way. They included that ‘more bike racks have been added, and a city link walk through for fans. This is the standard for greenwashing, as the Citizens’ main sponsor is Etihad Airways, who release a heinous amount of carbon emissions every year. In 2023, Etihad Airways ‘sustainable aviation’ ads were banned in the UK; as a UK advertising watchdog judged that Etihad mislead consumers over the environmental impacts of flying. These greenwashing attempts are keeping Manchester City’s environmental reputation very positive, whilst their sponsors are indulging in heavy environmental damage every year. 

On the other side of Manchester, the Red Devils aren’t squeaky clean on their greenwashing record, as INEOS taking over Manchester United is a huge scheme to cover up the harm that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company actually does. Fossil Fuel companies worldwide have been revealed to invest over $4 billion in greenwashing acts, to divert attention away from their climate carelessness. INEOS faced backlash in Grangemouth, Scotland, as their biggest facility is responsible for emitting 3.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019, and it has been argued if their carbon dioxide holding facilities are reliable at keeping in emissions and not releasing them into the atmosphere. In addition, INEOS’ sponsor of Team Sky in cycling has further pushed greenwashing claims as Ratcliffe’s company hides behind sporting organisations to turn eyes away.

Despite both of these, will United or City fans promote backlash against their clubs, or will hearts in elite sports let greenwashing and soft power take over. As a Manchester United fan myself, I feel almost powerless.

Will soft power and sportswashing/greenwashing ever stop? The biggest stakeholders in this current predicament are the fans. The fans have the power; they can protest against their club, protest against FIFA and protest for a better sporting world. The question really is if they will. Manchester City fans off the back of a treble will be as happy as Larry.

From the Premier League to the World Cup, to any sports in between, it seems that soft power and sportswashing is relevant and accelerating to rates that are unstoppable. Any nation or company can now use a sporting team as a shield for backlash and make themselves the light in the darkness for fans, whereas they are the dark in the light for the rest of the world.

[heartsandmindsofsport]

Hearts and Minds of Sport, Broken and Infected

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Arguably the best ever football player in history, signing for Al Nassr. A momentous day for Saudi Arabia, with elegance and history gracing the Saudi Pro League. A king crowned, a scoring sovereign, a cultured prince turned sultan bringing millions of fans to spectate the Knight of Najd. What did it take? A murdered journalist?

Boxing brilliance, an underdog story and a thrilling rematch in the works. Fans worldwide anticipating the much-wanted sequel; will it happen in the UK, the famous York Hall, or Madison Square Gardens, two boxing venues cloaked in long standing chronicles. Or maybe the very ‘historic’ Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia, constructed in 2019 to host the rematch. What did it take? $6 billion spent on sports deals?

18th December 2022; the World Cup final, two Nations ingrained with success, battling to lift the most prestigious international competition in history. One side hoping to repeat a previous triumph; another led by one of the most decorated players in football, aspiring to discover the missing trophy in his cabinet, a hidden treasure buried in the sand. The potential to be the most-watched game ever. What did it take? A corruption scandal deep within FIFA and rigged awarding of hosting the World Cups?

Embed from Getty Images

Three major events that won the hearts of fans worldwide, and that is how soft power really catches you.

The Evolution of Soft Power - Deception in motion

Did you ever question the reasoning of Russia and Qatar being awarded the World Cups in 2018 and 2022? Or Saudi Arabia in 2034; another tournament that will pause seasons across the globe to accommodate the harsh and scorching weather in the Middle East? As football fans, we must accept these conditions to roister the beautiful game. Nonetheless, it’s not just football that decisions are made against the will of athletes and the fans. The 2022 Winter Olympics hosted by China, a nation with a horrible human rights record, hosting a worldwide mega event. Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup will undoubtedly move eyes away from the 6500 migrant workers who died since the Middle Eastern nation were ‘awarded’ the competition. As Sohail Mamood declared, ‘Qatar’s Soft Power won the World Cup’.

Let's delve deeper into the issue. What exactly is ‘Soft Power’? The term was coined and popularised by Joseph Nye in the late 1980s, and went on to define the post-Cold War era. Nye explains ‘Soft Power’ as the ability to shape the preferences for others, with countries resting primarily on three resources; its culture, its political values and its foreign policies. Whilst in contrast to hard power, a technique that would usually involve strategies including strong military force and economic sanctions, soft power appears a lot more positive. Soft power wants to use persuasion to achieve foreign policy objectives and communicate compelling narratives.

Despite the term only appearing in the last half century, Soft Power has been prevalent since before the Second World War. The 1936 Berlin Olympics was hosted by Nazi Germany, and it became a powerful propaganda tool for Nazi Germany as it tried to make its brutal treatment of Jews, political opponents and others seem benign. Hitler organised for six gymnasiums and other small arenas to be built, alongside a 100,000 seater track and field stadium, historically known as the ‘Olympistadion’; which recently hosted the 2024 Euros final between Spain and England. The 1936 Olympics was marred with Nazi imagery, with swastikas hung on buildings and Nazi salutes during medal ceremonies. As Andrew Nagorski wrote about in his book ‘Hitlerland’, the ‘Fuhrer uch Reichskanzler’ saw the 1936 Olympic games as an opportunity to promote his government and ideals of racial supremacy and anti-semitism. Germany topped the medal charts with a whopping 38 golds and 101 total medals, indicating how soft power and a sprinkle of corruption can make spectators believe how good you are perceived to be.

Embed from Getty Images

Just two years before the Berlin games, a similar event of Soft Power took place in Italy, as Mussolini’s Italy hosted the second ever World Cup. The 1930s was a decade of fascism in Europe, and Mussolini fired a huge propaganda campaign with the promotion of football as a patriotic symbol of their superiority. In addition to the fascist ideology communicated by Italy during the World Cup, Mussolini really wanted to flex Italy’s muscles as a powerful country by winning the final. Other big nations taking part boosted popularity, but a predictable Italy ‘win’ uplifted their reputation; despite certain rumours of corruption favouring the host nation, including on-field fights and illegible players…

So, soft power has been utilised for a long time. Over the course of around 100 years, you could imagine us as sports fans would catch on to the idea of soft power, and eliminate the operators. Has 21st century elite sports learnt anything about the dynamics of soft power? 

The awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar blew up in the faces of FIFA as backlash was rife; especially in the media. FairSquare issued a statement to Gianni Infantino, informing him to take a ‘proactive’ stance on migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. If you try and search about the Qatar World Cup, the search results lead to many top publications criticising the hosting of the World Cup, all the controversies and FIFA. So how did Qatar achieve this event, and how did their soft power win in front of everyone's faces? 

Search results regarding the Qatar World Cup

Sportswashing - Wipe away the Corruption

After watching and enjoying the 2022 World Cup, what is the most memorable moment? That Mbappe final hat-trick, Messi winning his first ever World Cup, or, for us England fans, Harry Kane blasting a penalty over the bar to see us lose to France in the quarter-finals. This is what the Qatar World Cup will be remembered for, not the horrific abusive labour practices and human rights violations. Qatar, a nation with a very little football history, became the first Country to host and qualify for a World Cup without ever playing in one previously. As their team lined up on the 20th November 2022, Ecuador promptly washed them away with two first-half goals to eventually win 2-0. Qatar never wanted to do well at the World Cup. It's not about results on the pitch, it's about their reputation.

Embed from Getty Images

The original use of ‘sportswashing’ and who coined it has been hard to pin, yet it has been snowballing in popularity in the last two decades. Sportswashing - the act of aligning with with an athlete, sports team, or event in order to distract from unethical practises elsewhere - was first thought to be associated with Beijing hosting the 2008 Olympics, with China hoping to distract from their human right’s violations.

Embed from Getty Images

For the gulf nation, the rush to host a World Cup was to establish an image as a global powerhouse, and to fulfil the ideology of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-thani, the emir of Qatar, by economically developing the country. However, the movement of money crashed against a wall of controversy. Being the smallest ever country to host a World Cup, Qatar had to invest heavily to ensure everyone would remember Qatar  as the Country who organised an amazing event, made even better by the exciting footballing moments. Forbes estimates Qatar splashed well over $200 billion on the World Cup, from new elite hotels, airport renovation, upgrades to public transport all over the country and eight new, grand spanking stadiums to watch corrupted football. Qatar’s reputation certainly skyrocketed with the World Cup, but for the wrong reasons. During the building of this luxury infrastructure, the Guardian reported that workers were forced into labour, a form of modern slavery. Workers were being forced to live in unsanitary and overcrowded accommodation, with some workers alleging they were not being paid and not allowed to return back home. The Supreme Committee, the organising body associated with the World Cup, announced they were ‘deeply concerned’ with the allegations, and an investigation was being conducted. However, we all know it was their plan in the first place. The day Lionel Messi lifted the golden World Cup trophy, iconically wearing a black robe, a ‘bischt’ in Qatari culture, over 6500 migrant workers had been murdered for that moment. Of the over 1.5 billion spectators that watched the World Cup final between Argentina and France, I wonder how many were questioning the ethical nature of the competition. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-thani handed Messi the bischt, with blood on his hands.

Embed from Getty Images

It wasn’t just the years leading up to the tournament, even at the beginning of the 2022 World Cup, there was controversy around the Middle Eastern’s law when it came to homosexuality. The ‘Islamic Sharia Law’ forbids same-sex relations and there were big questions about the safety of the LGBTQ+ community leading into this global event. How are you supposed to host a World Cup and omit an entire minority based on their sexuality? For FIFA, mega events like the World Cup can be seen as opportunities to move forward as a society, especially in regards to the safety given to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Josh Cavallo, an Australia U20 international, came out as gay in October 2021, becoming the first top flight footballer to do so. Cavallo stated he felt ‘excluded’ and ‘disappointed in FIFA’ for letting Qatar host the World Cup.

Embed from Getty Images

However, the worst was yet to come on this issue. Following numerous questions about the safety of gay people in Qatar, FIFA president Gianni Infantino came out with a humorous press conference protecting Qatar; in which he said ‘he felt gay’, trying to emulate the emotional feelings of gay people surrounding issues with the World Cup. To top it all off, Infantino said he felt ‘disabled’ and he felt like ‘a migrant worker’. 

Despite all of the negativity around the World Cup, it will still be remembered as the tournament when Messi finally won. The minds of the public and fans are thinking about results, and not what happens behind the scenes. 

It's not just nations that are sportswashing. Companies are sports washing and it is appearing everywhere, especially in the Premier League. The pinnacle of English football is guilty, and in ways that you may not expect. Most recently, Newcastle United were taken over by a Saudi-led consortium in 2021, with the reigns being taken off Mike Ashley, who left St. James’ Park and took his Sports Direct advertising with him. When former Director of Newcastle, Amanda Stavely, was asked about Saudi Arabia’s human rights concerns, she stated they took the records ‘very seriously’, but reiterated the takeover was not a Saudi state, but a Public Investment Fund. The Premier League first denied the takeover due to the Saudi involvement, but in 2021, the Premier League released a statement in which they confirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control the club. Nevertheless, the Saudi state does not control Newcastle United, but since the takeover, they have been happy to splash the cash on transfers on players like Tonali, Isak and Gordon. This sportswashing act is even more hidden than others. After the years of hurt under Mike Ashley, the ‘Saudi’ private investment fund spent a load of money and hurled Newcastle into the Champions League. I wonder what the opinion of Newcastle fans will be over Saudi Arabia, as they walk away with an improved reputation and another successful sportswashing scheme. 

Embed from Getty Images

In the hearts and minds of Newcastle fans, they know it's wrong, however, they can’t help but love the success.

Greenwashing - The cost of being environmentally ethical

As sportswashing was on the rise, a different type of washing was always prevalent, but not always in the sporting world. ‘Greenwashing’ is when companies use PR tactics to appear environmentally friendly, without ever doing the hard work to reduce their environmental impact. The term was coined back in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westerveld and features in sports more than you think. Major climate polluters have been accused of sportswashing, in numerous different sports. Manchester City released a ‘greener’ transport and travel way for fans to get to games in a ‘greener’ way. They included that ‘more bike racks have been added, and a city link walk through for fans. This is the standard for greenwashing, as the Citizens’ main sponsor is Etihad Airways, who release a heinous amount of carbon emissions every year. In 2023, Etihad Airways ‘sustainable aviation’ ads were banned in the UK; as a UK advertising watchdog judged that Etihad mislead consumers over the environmental impacts of flying. These greenwashing attempts are keeping Manchester City’s environmental reputation very positive, whilst their sponsors are indulging in heavy environmental damage every year. 

Embed from Getty Images

On the other side of Manchester, the Red Devils aren’t squeaky clean on their greenwashing record, as INEOS taking over Manchester United is a huge scheme to cover up the harm that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company actually does. Fossil Fuel companies worldwide have been revealed to invest over $4 billion in greenwashing acts, to divert attention away from their climate carelessness. INEOS faced backlash in Grangemouth, Scotland, as their biggest facility is responsible for emitting 3.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019, and it has been argued if their carbon dioxide holding facilities are reliable at keeping in emissions and not releasing them into the atmosphere. In addition, INEOS’ sponsor of Team Sky in cycling has further pushed greenwashing claims as Ratcliffe’s company hides behind sporting organisations to turn eyes away.

Embed from Getty Images

Despite both of these, will United or City fans promote backlash against their clubs, or will hearts in elite sports let greenwashing and soft power take over. As a Manchester United fan myself, I feel almost powerless.

Will soft power and sportswashing/greenwashing ever stop? The biggest stakeholders in this current predicament are the fans. The fans have the power; they can protest against their club, protest against FIFA and protest for a better sporting world. The question really is if they will. Manchester City fans off the back of a treble will be as happy as Larry.

From the Premier League to the World Cup, to any sports inbetween, it seems that soft power and sportswashing is relevant and accelerating to rates that are unstoppable. Any nation or company can now use a sporting team as a shield for backlash and make themselves the light in the darkness for fans, whereas they are the dark in the light for the rest of the world.

[maxtaylor5803]

From Oil Fields to Sports Fields: Saudi Arabia’s Power Over the Sporting World.

By Max Taylor

In the past five years, Saudi Arabia has become a major player on the global sports stage, going beyond it's traditions to embrace a new era of competition.  From hosting high profile events across the country such as Formula 1 races and international golf tournaments to investing heavily in the Saudi Pro League with household names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, the kingdom is redefining it's identity through sport. The country is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup making it the second time in 12 years the tournament has been held in the Middle East and makes the country one of the new homes for sport in the world.  

(The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been investing in different sports in Saudi Arabia and also internationally) Credit: Joe Pompliano

The transformation not only reflects a strategic vison for the economy but also a massive cultural shift as the nation seeks to connect with a more broad and diverse audience across the world. Saudi Arabia is also gradually embracing a more westernized approach becoming more acceptant with different lifestyles and cultures to further their ambitions as a leading nation in sport.

Saudi Arabia located in the middle east has significant Islamic history as the birthplace of the religion. Saudi Arabia today still remains the central hub for Islam housing the two holiest cites for Muslims, Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia is also the world’s biggest oil exporter making them as country extortionary amounts of money.  

With Major events like Riyadh Season they have quickly become a celebration of culture and entertainment showcasing different events that highlight the country’s transformation. Over the past year the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh has started to get some of the best fights and events in combat sports history due to Riyadh Season and the backing of the Saudi government. The events have significantly boosted brand visibility and engagement, leading to lucrative partnerships as companies capitalize on the heightened interest in entertainment and tourism.

The events also offer Saudi Arabia to promote their own culture as the events attract international visitors and gives them an understanding of their culture. 

As Saudi Arabia continues to invest and develop its sports culture, boxing and other combat sports such as MMA and pro wrestling have emerged as a massive sport that take place at Riyadh Season attracting both international and local interest.

(Over a million people have visited Riyadh Season since its birth and has now become a massive part of the sporting world)

From the first big fight in 2018 when Antony Joshua fought Andy Ruiz Jnr to now you have seen impressive growth and stability thanks to Riyadh Season and the impressive cards it keeps producing. It almost seems as if everyone should be happy with what Saudi Arabia is doing for the country but is that the case?

Sports Washing and Soft Power

Saudi Arabia has come under huge criticism for its human rights record, with restrictions on freedom of speech or expression, gender inequality and extremely harsh punishments for dissent. Despite the ongoing international scrutiny, the Saudi government has implemented limited reforms while continuing to suppress political opposition and impose restrictions on civil liberties.

Human Rights advocates have argued that the lack of progress on the situation highlights a systemic disregard for individual freedom and is being overshadowed by the country’s alliances and economic interests.

The situation very much complicates international effects to promote human rights as many nations have economic ties and security partnerships to Saudi Arabia. There are also accusations of Hypocrisy towards foreign policy due to this.

As a result, many have called for a more robust and principled approach to engagement with Saudi Arabia urging governments to prioritize human rights in trade deals and agreements to try and foster a meaningful change in the kingdom.  

The kingdoms’ aggressive push for visibility on the global stage has raised massive concerns about sports washing, a tactic that’s been employed to improve the counties image whilst overshadowing its human rights issues. By investing in international sports such as Boxing, MMA and WWE to acquiring a stake in football club Newcastle United, Saudi Arabia aims to reshape its worldwide reputation and exert soft power, effectively diverting the attention away from their domestic problems.   

In a recent article posted on the guardian by Ruth Michaelson, it states that Saudi Arabia has spent £4.9bn in sports deals since early 2021 which was more than quadruple the amount spent over a 6-year period. 

Read the article Here

Other events have also attracted attention for sports washing and the Saudi Government exerting soft power and influence on the world.

Riyadh Season has expanded its brand internationally, highlighted by a major British title fight at Wembley Stadium where Antony Joshua faced Daniel Dubois earlier this year. Faced with major backlash from British press and British boxing fan alike the Saudi Arabia national anthem was sung before the main event.

Also, there was some backlash over the fact the people were handing out free programmes promoting Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season. These Programmes contained Saudi tourism and Events and people didn’t feel it was right to be constantly handed and fed Saudi information.

Lucas Accardo who attended the event at Wembley Stadium said “You were constantly handed Saudi Propaganda when walking down Wembley way, Outside the Stadium and also inside”. “You could see people been forced to take it and then throwing it in the bin Which makes the whole process pointless though I don’t care about as we had a mega fight thanks to Saudi Arabia”. 

(Accardo was in attendance at Wembley Stadium for the stacked Riyadh Season card) Credit: Lucas Accardo.

“Riyadh Season has totality reinvented boxing as we know it, we are now getting the best and biggest fights in the world and its all down to them”. “In the past year we have seen Tyson Fury vs Usyk a title unification match and a match that we wouldn’t have expected if it wasn’t for Riyadh season’  

He further added “the money that Riyadh season and the Saudi government are offering is definitely a factor in why we are getting the best fights now but let it carry on as I feel entertained and excited about what else is to come”

Accardo also commented on the fact the Saudi national anthem was played inside Wembley Stadium stating “If that’s what it takes to get the bests fights to happen in England I’m completely fine with it”.

This comes after comments made by Matchroom Chairmen Eddie Hearn commenting on the decision. Hearn commented after the backlash defending the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority and the chairman Turki Alalshikh who’s an advisor in the country’s royal court.

When Speaking about Turki he said he was more than entitled to have the anthem played as a ‘sign of respect’. ‘He’s given British boxing, all the fighters, all the fans, the best night, he’s paid for it all.  

WWE is another company to commit a long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia hosting major Pay Per Views across the kingdom and showcasing its biggest stars in their stadiums. While featuring high profile matches with iconic wrestlers that the kingdom, WWE expand its global reach, showing cultural exchange and providing fans in the region with a quality live experience.

Over this last weekend WWE hosted a premium live event in the Kingdom known as Crown Jewel. This thrilling event saw all of WWE major talent fight in the country including Roman Reigns and WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WWE (@wwe)

(Cody Rhodes won his champion vs champion match against Gunther in Saudi Arabia Last Weekend).

There was also Women Fighting on the card showing Saudi Arabia progressing as previously women have been unable to fight on the card. Also, there were chants of WrestleMania (The Biggest WWE event) being screamed when Director Triple H was on stage leading to speculation that the event could take place in the Kingdom soon.  

WWE host Crown Jewel every year in Saudi Arabia that has become a massive feature on the Wresting Calendar in recent years but it didn’t start that way. The show which first took place in 2018 faced a number of challenges that nearly killed off its reputation. From Saudi officials asking for dead wrestlers to appear at the show tied with the controversy surrounding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the show faced serious backlash.

The 2019 Broadcast of the show was abruptly cut after WWE and Saudi Arabia faced money disputes. After the Show WWE planes faced alleged ‘mechanical issues’ which meant they were unable to make it to the planned Smackdown Live show the following night but many on the scene reported that the planes were grounded by the Saudi government on purpose.  

(The crown Prince pictured with ex WWE chairman Vince Mcmahon (Left) and WWE Chief Content Creator Triple H (Right) with the WWE Championship) Credit: Forbes.

In an article written by Fightful, a unnamed wrestler known as CW-2 due to lawsuits told them about how he and other wrestling legends such as Hulk Hogan and Rick Flair were told ‘Someone doesn’t want us to leave the country’ as they were left stranded on a place. He also went to add that that there was a ‘ton of guards blocking the exit’.

You can read the Fightful article Here

The Seriousness of this incident shows The Kingdoms power over companies and the damaging effect it can have on future shows as WWE had no one to wrestle for them the following night and had to use developmental talent to carry the SmackDown Live show the next night.

But, WWE have reignited their partnership with Saudi Arabia and now proceed to to make outstanding showcases in the kingdom gaining praise from fans internationally.

But as WWE in Saudi Arabia captures global attention, the excitement surrounding the Saudi Pro League is also gaining momentum, showcasing the country’s growing influence in sports.

Will the Pro League Rival the Prem?

The Saudi Pro League (Saudi top-flight football division) is experiencing a massive surge in investment, with billions of pounds being put into their football teams to attract some of the best names in the football enhancing the leagues infrastructure.

The league is committed to acquiring high profile players and coaches whilst the financial status of the country aims to promote Saudi Arabia as a significant player in world football. Over the past year greats of the game such as Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo have moved to the kingdom to play the game that they love and are receiving massive wage rises in their contracts even though they are both over the age of 30.

With a major financial backing and growing number of international stars, the Saudi Pro League could be poised to challenge the dominance of the Premier League and potentially transforming the global football landscape in the future.

Despite the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Many Footballers still aspire to play in Europe, driven by the prestige of the big leagues and the chance to showcase their talent on the biggest stage in the UEFA Champions league. This desire often stems from the competitive environment and rich history the competition has to offer.

However, the Saudi Pro League is rapidly growing and now gives good reasons why players may consider it seriously.

(Players like Ronaldo get millions of pounds for posting on social media Look below).

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

In an article by Rayhan Uddin for Middle eastern Eye, they discussed footballers making the move to Saudi. In this article, they presented a quote from Journalist Mostafa Mohamed.

Read Here.

‘For some Muslim players Approaching the twilight of their careers, the opportunity to experience and live in a Muslim nation is an attraction’   

This article came after the ballon d’or winner at the time and also someone who practices Islam Karim Benzema moved to Pro League when he signed for Al-Ittihad and promotes the nation saying he’s planning to learn Arabic.

But will the Saudi Pro League ever rival the Premier League? The answer is yes potentially considering the amount of money being invested into the league and the fact that teams in the Pro League are gaining worldwide recantation due to the stars the teams have.

What’s the next steps for the Kingdom?

The 2034 world cup is set to take place in the kingdom allegedly beating Australia to host the biggest competition in the world. With Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and also rules about relationships with people from the same sex, drinking alcohol and also freedom of speech, the question should be how have they got it and should they host it?

But like the previous World Cups in Qatar who have similar human rights issues and Russia who are now currently at war with neighboring country Ukraine, FIFA haven’t had an issue with hosting in countries with human rights issues and have produced great tournaments. Well known pundits such as Gary Neville feel that we should address the issues in the counties.

Riyadh Season will again be hosting the 2nd bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on the 21st December, a fight that unified all the world titles earlier this year.  

Info on times and where to buy it Here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tyson Fury (@tysonfury)

Saudi Arabia’s strategic investments in sport enables the nation to change its public perception and its global image. By hosting major events with some of the best athletes in the world, the kingdom does look to be using its soft power to influence and showcase their views and traditions. But by doing this they are limiting the audiences that can attend.

They might’ve won the hearts of mind of their nation but there’s still a long way to go if they want to win over the entire world.

[h1p3rn0v4]

Dixon, que representa a la viuda del disidente saudí Jamal Khashoggi , Hatice Cengiz, dijo que la FIFA no había respondido al informe. “Estamos pidiendo a la FIFA, con su orgullosa historia de adoptar una postura a favor de los derechos humanos, que haga exactamente eso ahora mismo y simplemente no es suficiente no responder en absoluto a nuestro informe”, dijo. “Tiene que haber una consulta. Las cosas tienen que cambiar si Arabia Saudita va a ser considerada para la Copa del Mundo. No podemos tener recomendaciones vagas o escenarios falaces”.

[d2kvirus]

10/10/24 Fact or Fiction

Statement #1: The CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood was the best WWE match of 2024 so far. FICTION - Putting aside the hilarity that the same people who bemoaned Swerve/Hangman at All Out was "Too violent" have been gushing about Punk/McIntyre (like I wasn't going to mention that little double standard right out of the gate...), but I'd personally go for the Gunther/Sheamus match from the KOTR tournament on Raw a few months ago given seeing Gunther and Sheamus beating the unholy piss out of each other is my jam and they always bring something out of each other

Statement #2: You are excited for ANOTHER Kevin Owens heel turn. FACT - Owens always kicks it up another gear when he's heel, even when he has Jericho leeching off him at the time, so no matter what he will deliver - though I am worried they may have turned him heel just so Cody had a program for another PPV cycle or two, though hopefully he has direction beyond that

Statement #3: WWE has successfully “sportswashed” Saudi Arabia for the WWE fanbase. FACT - While it seems unfair to single out WWE specifically, given Saudi Arabia sportswashes on an industrial scale and that same criticism can be aimed at the Premier League for letting the Newcastle takeover go through, FIFA for awarding them the 2034 World Cup or the entire sport of golf for prostrating themselves, WWE kissing the ring certainly helped - as that obvious burner giving Goalfather and myself the most centrist type of pro-Saudi nagging the other day demonstrates...

Statement #4: You definitely want to try Wendy’s Saucy Nuggs after it was featured in advertising all around the arena during the Bad Blood main event. FICTION - For a start I don't believe they're on the menu of the UK wing of Wendy's, or the branch in my neck of the woods has already been abandoned to die already, but TBH I've never been someone who will rush out for chicken nuggets anyway - and certainly not to Gatwick for them...

Statement #5: The bodyslam is an outdated wrestling move. FICTION - The bodyslam isn't outdated, but mainly because it still works perfectly for a visual: if you have a match between competitors with an obvious size differential it's always a cool visual to see the larger guy effortlessly pick up the smaller guy like they're nothing and spike them into the mat, and it has to be said it's also a useful move to have in the toolkit for plunder matches as a bodyslam onto a pair of standing chairs or a pile of thumbtacks/Lego bricks/D&D dice is a simple setup and execution that will get the desired reaction from the crowd

Statement #6: Ricochet will be a regular main event-er in AEW over the next few years. FICTION - Unless he gets a manager, I can't see him getting settled in AEW's main event scene because there's no way to build headline programs without promos and Ricochet would get eaten alive by so many potential opponents not just because they'd smoke him on the mic, but his lack of promo ability would get horribly exposed and him talking would potentially do more harm than good

[karpad]

Saudi Arabia has now committed to Neom being real enough to host world cup games in 10 years. This would be hilarious if not for the inevitable human rights violations this construction project will entail.

[humanrightsupdates]

Saudi Arabia: Flawed Assessment of World Cup Bid

Law Firm at Risk of Being Linked to Abuses

(New York) – A flawed human rights assessment of Saudi Arabia’s FIFA 2034 World Cup bid by AS&H Clifford Chance, part of the global partnership of London-based law firm Clifford Chance, leaves the global firm at risk of being linked to abuses which result from the tournament, 11 organizations, including Human Rights Watch, said today.

AS&H Clifford Chance, which is based in Riyadh and sits within Clifford Chance’s integrated global partnership, produced an “independent human rights context assessment” that was published by FIFA. The assessment has helped pave the way for Saudi Arabia to be confirmed as 2034 hosts on December 11, 2034. But it contains no substantive discussion of extensive and relevant abuses in Saudi Arabia, documented by multiple human rights organizations and UN bodies, and has formed the basis of Saudi Arabia’s human rights strategy for the tournament, which was described by Amnesty International as a “whitewash.”

The 11 organizations, which include a Saudi Arabian diaspora organization, Gulf human rights groups, and labor organizations, as well as Football Supporters Europe, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, wrote to Clifford Chance’s Global Managing Partner, setting out in detail all the concerns in a statement and inviting the authors to publish an updated report. The firm, which says that it works in partnership with “some of the world’s leading NGOs and civil society organizations,” said in response that it would be “inappropriate” to offer any further comment on the report and shared a link to publicly available company policies.

“It has been clear for more than a year now that FIFA is determined to remove all potential obstacles to make sure it can hand Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the 2034 World Cup,” said James Lynch, co-director of the FairSquare human rights organization, which led the joint approach to the law firm. “By producing a shockingly poor report, AS&H Clifford Chance, part of one of the world’s largest law firms that makes much of its human rights expertise, has helped to remove a key final stumbling block

[isfeed]

Saudi Arabia proposes World Cup stadium straight out of a cyberpunk dystopia

The roof of the stadium is made with polygonal shapes. | Image: Saudi 2034 Saudi Arabia has revealed the 11 soccer stadiums it plans to build as part of its bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup — and one of them looks like it came out of a video game. The Neom Stadium would be located within the country’s dystopian smart city at more than 350 meters (383 yards) above the ground. You’ll instantly…

[fifaworldcup2026tickets]

FIFA World Cup 2026: Number of teams and the qualifying process for FIFA 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: Three states will co-host the next Football World Cup. And six nations will share the honour in 2030, while a lead contender for 2034 has emerged. England men’s next major competition after the Euro 2024 will be the FIFA 2026 staged in North America. The contest will break new ground as it is presented by three nations. The United States, Canada and Mexico, and being expanded to consist of 48 sides.

Looking to be a part of the action at the Football World Cup 2026? eticketing.co offers a reliable and secure platform for purchasing FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets. As the go-to source for fans worldwide, we provide exclusive access to a range of FIFA 2026 Tickets. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to witness the world's best football teams compete for glory.

The state of the fields and training services in the US have come under inspection. During the Copa America, Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa launched a furious attack about conditions. Temperatures are also likely to soar at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Returning to its usual summer slot after a winter renewal in Qatar.

The next Football World Cup take place at… 

In a contest first, the FIFA World Cup will be held across three host countries. After the North American trio’s bid fended off a strong offer from Morocco. The games will be played across 16 cities 11 from the US, two in Canada and three in Mexico. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and Football World Cup Final will all be held in the States. The list of cities that will be hosting at least one FIFA World Cup game.

Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the Football World Cup final on July 19, 2026. The site has a capacity of 82,500. The ground, home of the New York Giants and Jets has hosted the Super Bowl. And recently sold-out shows by pop superstars such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

It boasts lavish interior member clubs with views of the New York skyline. The FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals will be held at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The quarter-finals will be at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Massachusetts, the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: First game and venue for FIFA 2026

Mexico will open the tournament on June 11, 2026, with their first group game at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The USA will begin their drive at the SoFi in LA on June 12. And will remain on the West Coast for the group leg, with two games in Seattle. Canada will play their opening game in Toronto also on June 12. Canada and Mexico are also certain to play all their group games on home soil. With Guadalajara and Vancouver also hosting.

To limit the travel of teams and admirers. The three host nations have been broken down into east, central and west regions, where sides will be based for the group stage.

Number of teams at the Football World Cup 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be contested by 48 sides rather than the usual 32. FIFA said the decision to enlarge will increase participation and provide more chances for footballers around the whole world. FIFA first said there would be 16 sets of three teams. With the top two from each group proceeding to a knockout round of 32.

However, it reviewed this stance and will instead start with 12 sets of four with the top two teams. And the eight best third-placed teams qualifying for the round of 32. Under this format. There will be 104 games in total, instead of the old-style 64. Including an additional knockout round called as FIFA World Cup Round of 32.

Football World Cup: How does FIFA agree on the host country for FIFA World Cup

The host nation is defined by a bidding process. Fifa takes several factors into account when deciding which nation, or countries, will play host. Many of these measures are available for set-up including stadium measurements. Fan lodging, transport systems as well as services for the teams and referees. The countdown is on! Only 3 years until the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in North America.

The 2030 World Cup will be held across six nations and three continents. Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the co-hosts. But the first three games of the contest will be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. FIFA says the continent-hopping event will be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Football World Cup. The inaugural edition. In 1930, was held in Uruguay.

The bid has been completed as the only candidate for the competition by the FIFA Council. The bidding process for the 2034 competition has also started. Saudi Arabia is the front-runner after Fifa accelerated the bidding procedure.

For football fans eager to secure their spot at the upcoming tournament. eticketing.co provides an extensive collection of FIFA World Cup Tickets. With our user-friendly interface and dedicated customer support, purchasing FIFA World Cup Final Tickets has never been easier. Explore our listings for FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets today and prepare to cheer for your favourite team on the biggest stage in football.

Kansas City takes steps to ensure passage for FIFA World Cup 2026

There is a new person in charge of making sure. Kansas City has adequate carriage when the Football World Cup 2026 visits the area. KC2026, the non-profit group in charge of planning, and executing. The huge event named Julie Lorenz as Senior Advisor for Transportation. The organization said Lorenz will work with the transportation team to identify and implement carriage options. That will advantage the Kansas City metro for years to come.

Transportation is a key issue for FIFA World Cup 26. Teams will be spread throughout the region using different sites as practice locations and base camps. As part of the pitch to become a host city, Kansas City leaders ensured FIFA that there would be adequate passage to handle FIFA World Cup Teams. Well as the thousands of fans who are probable to visit the area.

As a long-time member of the Kansas City region. I’m proud to join the crew in charge of executing the largest sporting event in this region’s past, Lorenz said. The transportation needs of this project are significant. And I look forward to leveraging my experience in both the public and private sectors to deliver robust carriage plans.

Graeme guesses who will be England FIFA World Cup side captain at the FIFA 2026

All the talk around the England FIFA World Cup team right now is about who will follow in Gareth Southgate's shoes. As the next boss of the national team. However, one former Premier League boss is looking further. Afield is questioning who will lead the Three Lions if they make it to the World Cup in two years. Harry Kane is the current England skipper. But questions have been raised about his upcoming role in the team.

Speaking on a sports podcast. Graeme Souness has rubbed one of the team's young stars to be the one to take the armband. At the next contest in North America. He said, in two years’ time Jude Bellingham will be the England skipper. He will captain them at the FIFA World Cup 2026. I think leaders in the modern game tend to hide.

The most recent example was at the Euros. When England was having a hard time with the media. It was Bellingham one of the youngest members of the team. He was up there talking to them on behalf of the squad. He should’ve been one of the last ones to go up because it should’ve been the more senior players.

At eticketing.co, we understand the excitement of experiencing the Football World Cup live. That's why we partner with trusted sellers on the secondary market to offer FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets. Whether you're looking for group-stage matches or the grand finale. Our platform has the best deals on Football World Cup Tickets.

[lagmennet]

FIFA World Cup: Candidates for 2030 and 2034 editions submit bid books

Moroccan, Spanish, and Argentine football federations have submitted bid books to FIFA. Gianni Infantino stated on Monday that the organization will now consider bids from the primary 2030 potential hosts as well as Saudi Arabia, which wants to host the 2034 football spectacular. Infantino spoke from Paris before the ideas were published. The Italian revealed that plans had been given over by the…

[studentofpolssunl]

Week 3, Post 2

It's weird to see the context in which global human rights are painted when talking about truly global sports. NFL and the NBA never have to worry about protecting human rights - we live in America. Things like that come naturally at sporting events. At least, I can't think of a recent human rights violation that occurred at an American sporting event. However, when looking at football (FIFA), the committee has to be very careful with where the games are based on who is bidding for the rights to be a host country. Something we take for granted here is a legitimate concern in the global community, and I find that fascinating. Who knew you had to accommodate for location when planning a sports tournament? Not something I think about often, and this article opened my eyes to that harrowing truth.