Bermuda Football Association President Mark Wade discusses the decision, citing FIFA's global vision.
The selection of Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup has sparked controversy, with human rights groups and activists raising concerns about the country's record on human rights. Calls for FIFA to exert pressure on Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights situation, similar to the scrutiny faced by Qatar in 2022, have intensified.
www.islandstats.com sought the perspective of Bermuda Football Association President Mark Wade on Bermuda's support for the Saudi bid.
Wade discussed the decision, highlighting FIFA's commitment to expanding the global reach of football: "During the Extraordinary FIFA Congress on December 11th, there were two significant votes taken. The FIFA World Cup of 2030, which will celebrate 100 years of FIFA, and the World Cup of 2034 awarded.
"FIFA is totally committed to making football truly global. To do that we have to be open to working with countries and cultures that are different from ours. In this case, football brings the eyes of the world to issues and challenges that would normally avoid global scrutiny."
Wade also expressed anticipation for the upcoming World Cups, including the 2026 tournament hosted by CONCACAF: "We look forward to the coming years when we welcome the Men’s Senior World Cup to CONCACAF in 2026 and as we watch the World Cups of 2030 and 2034 take shape."
While acknowledging the human rights concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia, Wade's statement emphasizes FIFA's vision of using football as a catalyst for positive change and global dialogue. The decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia will undoubtedly continue to be a subject of debate in the years leading up to the tournament.
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