The world football governing body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) announced a major sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco on 25 April 2024. Under the deal, Aramco company would sponsor major FIFA tournaments until 2027.

Saudi Arabian government accused of sports washing

The FIFA deal with the Saudi company has been criticised as sportswashing by the Saudi Arabian government. Saudi Arabia has been accused by critics of using sports to deflect criticism from its poor record on human rights violations, its involvement in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, continued women's rights abuses in the country, the restriction of free speech and the war in Yemen.

In order to improve its image in the world the Saudi government is heavily investing in sports world wide - a process that has been popularly called as 'sportswashing'.

Saudi Sponsorship of International Events

Under the FIFA deal, the Aramco company would sponsor multiple FIFA events, including the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The 2026 Men’s World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico. The host country for the Women’s World Cup 2027 is yet to be decided.

The Aramco company also has signed sponsorship deals with FIA to sponsor Formula 1 motor car racing and is a partner of the International Cricket Council.

Tennis

The Association of Tennis Professionals(ATP) has signed a strategic agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF will now become the official naming partner of the men's rankings and partner ATP tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing, the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, and the Next Gen ATP Finals to be held in the Saudi city of Jeddah. ATP is the governing body of professional male tennis in the world.

Saudi Arabia to host forthcoming international events

Football events

Saudi Arabia is to host the 2034 Men’s FIFA World Cup. It was the only country to bid for the event. FIFA will formally announce Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 Men’s FIFA World Cup after its approval by the FIFA member federations.

Asian Games

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Asian Games in Riyadh, its capital city. The Games will feature more sports events than the Summer Olympics.

Tennis

The world women's professional tennis governing body, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), has signed an agreement with the Saudis to hold the finals of the next three WTA editions in Riyadh.

Saudi Aramco Company

The Saudi Arabian oil Company is also known as Saudi Aramco.

The Saudi Aramco company is owned by the government of Saudi Arabia.

It is in the field of exploration and transportation of oil and gas. It is also in the business of refining petroleum oil and other petrochemical business.

It is the world’s largest oil-producing company.

It is the most profitable company in the world.

Headquarters: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

FIFA Men’s World Cup

The FIFA Men’s Football World Cup is a senior men’s football championship organised every four years.

Uruguay hosted the first World Cup in 1930. Due to the World Wars, no World Cup was held in 1942 and 1946.

The 21st World Cup was hosted by Qatar in 2022 and won by Argentina.

The 22nd World Cup would be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

The 23rd World Cup would be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in 2030. It would be hosted by six countries in three continents.

The 24th World Cup 2034 would be hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Brazil is the most successful team in the world, having won it five times, while Italy and Germany have won it four times each.

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)

It is the world governing body of men's and women’s football.

Headquarters of FIFA: Zurich, Switzerland.

President: Gianni Infantino .