Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
More than 100 professional women’s footballers have called on the sport’s governing body to drop Saudi oil giant Aramco as a sponsor. Fifa signed a four-year deal in April, thought to be worth £400 million, which gives the company sponsorship rights to the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2027 women’s World Cup. An open letter, signed by 106 players from 24 countries, said the deal was “worse than an own goal” and that Fifa “might as well pour oil on the pitch and set it alight”. They cited Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights and gender equality. Fifa is unlikely to budge for fear of angering the country (which is the sole bidder for the 2034 men’s World Cup) or denting their revenues. Fifa, which has made nearly $7 billion over the past two years, has the men’s Club World Cup to fund next summer. The prize money is thought to be in excess of $2 billion.
