The discussions about the likely awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia continue. And the German Football Association? I want to keep quiet for now.
The final award to Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup is still pending, and the call for a clear stance from the German Football Association (DFB) is already loud.
But instead of a statement, the DFB emphasized on Wednesday (November 1, 2023) that it “wait for the official application from the Saudi Football Association to be submitted” become, “in order to be able to evaluate them seriously and appropriately“.
In fact, the official application must be received by FIFA by July 2023; after an evaluation, the Congress with the 211 member associations is expected to vote at the end of next year. There is little doubt that the 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia: FIFA confirmed on Tuesday evening (October 31, 2023) that Saudi Arabia is the only applicant. In addition, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino left in one statement on Tuesday there was little doubt about the award to the kingdom.
DFB should take action
Wenzel Michalski is already taking the DFB to task. The association must “start working, roll up our sleeves and put pressure on FIFA”the Germany director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) demanded: “That’s what they should do, but I don’t see them doing it.
DFB President should position himself
You have eleven years,”in which sustainable concepts can be developed based on the experiences from Qatar.”said Philip Krämer (Alliance 90/The Greens), deputy chairman of the sports committee in the Bundestag, that it was needed “environmental and social goals to which Saudi Arabia must be committed”. The DFB, represented on the council by President Bernd Neuendorf, must also take action “position here at the FIFA meetings”.
Planning is already underway
In the midst of these discussions, Saudi Arabia, which has attracted stars to its own league with horrendous sums of money and has been investing in international sport for years, is pushing ahead with planning – for a Winter World Cup? “Of course we are ready for all possibilities”said the head of the Saudi association Yasser al-Misehal to the AFP news agency with a view to a possible relocation.
After the World Cup was postponed for the first time until the winter of 2022 in Qatar, the heat in Saudi Arabia will also play a role in the preparations. In parts of the country, temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees in summer. But there are also “Many new technologies that help with cooling or installing air conditioning in the stadiums”said al-Misehal.
Next Human rights disaster?
The discussions about the period, but also about the situation of migrant workers, women, minorities and dissidents are likely to continue. From Michalski’s point of view, FIFA is running “into the next human rights disaster”Saudi Arabia is “worse than Qatar in many respects”. But: “As long as the World Cup is celebrated like this and gets so much support”he said, “FIFA will simply see no reason to change anything.”