Key events
The FA is expected to support Saudi Arabia’s bid
Paul McInnes
The targeted association is expected to support both the Saudi bid for 2034 and the many countries offering 2030 from Spain, Mauritania and Portugal (as well as Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). Their joint position comes ahead of the vote, with the FA not commenting publicly, but looking to join the mass ‘acclamation’ for two days after being asked questions today.
Norway is currently the only nation that publicly expresses its opinion against the vote. On Tuesday, Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness said: “Tomorrow is not a vote about who gets the 2030 and 2034 World Cups – that has already been decided. The congress is primarily about providing feedback on Fifa’s allocation process.
“The assessment board is that the process does not add sound principles and predictability to the system,” Klaveness continued. “By refraining from cheering, we are sending a deliberate signal that we cannot support the arrival of Fifa.”
From Mussolini’s World Cup to Qatar, through Argentina’s military junta – the World’s long-standing relationship with what is now called “sportswashing”. While checking out this gallery, I stumbled upon it quite a spectacular quote from Hieronymus Valcke, then general secretary of Fifa, in 2013. “I will say something that is crazy – but less democracy is sometimes better for organizing the World Cup.”
The beginning
The World Cup is to be claimed Saudi Arabia. This afternoon the virtual Fifa meeting in Zürich will officially confirm the 2034 hosts (and the multinational 2030 tournament), but this has been done a lot. The speed with which the Saudi World Cup has evolved from distant fear to absolute certainty is breathtaking, and leaves many difficult unanswered questions. For example, the plan was the 2030 event to be hosted by six countries on three continents – trumpeted as a centenary tournament – a suitable excuse actually?
With Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay (Conmebol), Spain and Portugal (Uefa) and Mauritania (Caf) all sharing rights, it left Asia and Oceania as the only options for 2034. Fifa then He opened the control process without warning, and while Saudi Arabia had a glossy document ready to go – filled with dystopian visions burning beyond the terrestrial arena – the other parties involved had 25 days to get their act together. Australia was the only realistic contender, but time was running out.
Other hurdles overcome, including the Saudi FA committed human rights assessmentEntitled by “Litura” [of] the reality of abuse and discrimination by citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia” by one campaign group, condemned by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and others. Then Fifa’s own report on the Saudi bid was given, giving it a historically high number of 419.8 out of 500. Both of these assessments have failed to capture the fortunes of migrant workers, a shadow over Qatar’s World Cup, that is. at risk of being repeated.
Even the most wide-eyed, rural football fans in the awkward history of the World Cup as a propaganda tool can be traced back to 1934, a century before the Arab jamboree. Today’s inevitable coronation feels like history repeating itself, but with a film cast in ever-darker shadows. Will the next 10 years bring great light, clarity or reason? That feels less certain than ever before.