Should Belgium participate in the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia? For the co-president of Ecolo, Samuel Cogolati the answer is no. Indeed, the country authorizes the death penalty, limits freedom of expression… But what is the position of the Belgian football federation?
The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia is already causing controversy. However, the Belgian Union supported both the joint candidacy of Spain, Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup, as well as that of Saudi Arabia for 2034. Concerning the latter, the Union recognizes the concerns related to human rights and working conditions in Saudi Arabia.
However, a World Cup is not just a sporting event: it can serve as a catalyst for significant social change. Although political actors play a key role in this process, the Belgian Union wishes to support and encourage constructive developments. She emphasizes that the experience of the World Cup in Qatar showed that dialogue and cooperation are the best ways to promote progress.
The example of Qatar
According to the think tank “Generation for Rights Over the World”, the compulsory sponsorship system for workers in Qatar, known as kafala, was first abolished in 2016 under pressure from NGOs and international organizations. However, in practice, workers still needed their employer’s permission to change jobs.
A new vote in 2020 officially abolished this system, but according to Amnesty International, numerous recent testimonies show that, in fact, kafala still persists. Qatar also introduced a minimum wage, but a lack of controls means abuses continue.
These examples show that there is still progress to be made to ensure real respect for workers’ rights in Qatar. However, the World Cup has highlighted these problems and pushed for legislative reforms, even if they have not yet solved everything.
Finally, regarding the Belgian Union, it is important to remember that the Red Devils will first have to qualify for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, including the one organized in Saudi Arabia.
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