As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 World Cup, human rights groups are raising the alarm over the rising number of migrant worker deaths. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and FairSquare say many workers are dying from accidents that could have been prevented, and their families are not getting proper compensation.
These deaths are often marked down as “natural causes” even when they result from falls, electrocutions, or being crushed by machines. Human rights groups are now warning that the 2034 World Cup could come at a heavy human cost, with millions of migrant workers building 11 new stadiums, thousands of hotel rooms, and new transportation networks.
Minky Worden from Human Rights Watch said this World Cup might be the most expensive ever — not just in money, but in human lives. She warned that without strong safety rules, more deaths could follow, just like what happened before the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
FIFA, the global football body, said it is committed to protecting human rights. It also praised Saudi Arabia for taking labour law reforms since 2018. However, rights groups say not enough is being done, and FIFA has not shared clear details about how they will keep workers safe this time.
Reports show that heat exposure and unsafe working conditions are big problems. One tragic case involved Muhammad Arshad, a Pakistani foreman who died in March after falling at a stadium construction site in Al Khobar. This is believed to be the first worker death linked to the World Cup.
The global construction union BWI said accidents are rising, and many are due to poor safety, corruption, and lack of proper checks. FairSquare added that most migrant deaths are not investigated, and families often don’t learn how their loved ones died.
James Lynch from FairSquare said young men leave their families behind, hoping to work and support them, only to lose their lives with no answers. He also called FIFA’s human rights promises a “sham” while their partners profit from promoting Saudi Arabia’s image.
Why are human rights groups worried about the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia?
They fear that more migrant workers will die during construction work because of poor safety, extreme heat, and a lack of investigations into deaths, just like what happened in Qatar.
FIFA told Human Rights Watch it will create a new workers’ welfare system with rules for construction safety, but no full plan has been shared yet. Rights groups say Saudi Arabia and FIFA must fully investigate all worker deaths and compensate families fairly and quickly.