Women's World Cup 2023: FIFA's partnership with Visit Saudi questioned by the host countries

The Football Federations of Australia and New Zealand, the host countries of the 2023 Women's World Cup (20/07 to 20/08/2023), are asking FIFA to "urgently clarify" regarding the arrival of Visit Saudi, the national tourist office of Saudi Arabia, as one of the competition's partners, according to information from the American media outlet The Athletic on 01/02/2023. While this agreement has not yet been made official, as of 02/02/2023, the two bodies say they are "disappointed" that the International Federation did not consult them about it.

"After Cristiano Ronaldo's signing (to Al Nassr FC for €200m/season, on 30/12/2022), the purchase of Newcastle United FC (by the PIF, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, for €353m, 08/10/2021), the LIV golf series (10 annual tournaments financed by the PIF for €172m, 31/10/2022) and the country's hosting of numerous high-profile sporting events, Saudi Arabia's use of sport to try to mask its terrible human rights record is now a depressingly well-established pattern. FIFA should speak out about the need for human rights reform in Saudi Arabia…