More than nine years remain until the kickoff of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, but the country is already grappling with early signs of a crisis reminiscent of issues seen in previous tournaments. The death of Muhammad Arshad, a 35-year-old Pakistani worker, during the construction of the Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar, has reignited concerns about workplace safety and the rights of migrant workers, who are expected to form the backbone of the labor force building the infrastructure for the event. The incident, which took place on March 12, was reported as the first fatality directly tied to preparations for the tournament, drawing attention from international organizations and activists alarmed by the potential for history to repeat itself in the Middle East.
Muhammad Arshad fell from a tilted platform while performing formwork operations at height, a critical task in shaping the stadium’s concrete structures. Equipped with a fall protection system, he was not secured to an anchor point, leading to a severe fall. Rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, the worker succumbed en route, leaving behind three young children, aged two to seven, and a family now reliant on compensation mandated by Saudi labor laws.
The tragedy unfolded as Saudi Arabia ramps up efforts to meet an ambitious plan to build 11 new stadiums and refurbish four existing ones. Confirmed as the host in December 2024, the Gulf kingdom is preparing for a tournament featuring 48 teams, necessitating a massive infrastructure overhaul that extends beyond stadiums to include transportation networks, hotels, and training facilities.
???????????????????? O presidente da Associação Egípcia de Futebol, Hany Abou Rida, solicitou ao presidente da FIFA, Gianni Infantino, para co-organizar a Copa do Mundo de 2034 com a Arábia Saudita. pic.twitter.com/y5Hn7eyA4K
— Central do Arabão (@centraldoarabao) March 12, 2025
Early warning signs in World Cup preparations
The incident involving Muhammad Arshad is not an isolated event in the context of major sporting events in the Middle East. During preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, over 400 workers died in accidents or under extreme conditions, according to official figures, though independent estimates suggest the true toll may exceed 6,000. In Saudi Arabia, home to approximately 13.4 million migrant workers, the risk of a similar pattern is high, particularly under the “kafala” system, which ties workers to employers and restricts their rights and mobility.
The Aramco Stadium project, managed by the Belgian multinational Besix Group, saw a team of three workers on a platform that destabilized. While two were properly anchored, Arshad was not, exposing gaps in oversight and adherence to safety protocols. His body was repatriated on Tuesday, March 18, and buried near his hometown, with Besix pledging financial support to his family.
Human rights organizations had already raised red flags before construction began. A November 2024 Amnesty International report warned that without significant labor reforms, Saudi Arabia risks mass exploitation, with workers facing grueling shifts, substandard housing, and unpaid wages—conditions echoing those reported in Qatar.
Saudi ambitions under global scrutiny
Saudi Arabia’s selection as the 2034 World Cup host, finalized by Fifa in December 2024, is part of its broader push to become a global sports powerhouse under the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The kingdom’s bid scored a record 419.8 out of 500 technical points, outpacing even the joint 2026 bid from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, despite many stadiums existing only as blueprints. Yet, this high score clashes with criticism of the country’s human rights record, rated as “medium risk” by Fifa itself.
The plans include 11 cutting-edge stadiums, such as the Neom Stadium within the planned city of The Line, alongside upgrades to four existing venues and the creation of 132 training centers. This scope requires a workforce estimated in the hundreds of thousands, predominantly migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Philippines. Between January and July 2024 alone, 884 Bangladeshi workers died in Saudi Arabia, according to government data reviewed by Human Rights Watch, underscoring the vulnerability of this population even before World Cup construction ramps up.
Arshad’s death, the first linked to the 2034 preparations, amplifies allegations from groups like the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), which, in June 2024, accused Saudi Arabia of subjecting over 21,000 workers to slavery-like conditions. The organization documented passport confiscation, wages withheld for up to a decade, and physical violence, urging reforms before the tournament exacerbates these issues.
Qatar’s legacy: lessons unheeded?
Just over two years after the Qatar World Cup, parallels with Saudi Arabia are striking. In Qatar, international pressure prompted limited labor reforms, such as a minimum wage and partial easing of the “kafala” system, but activists deemed them inadequate. Thousands perished during the 2022 preparations, many in preventable accidents or from extreme heat reaching 50°C, while others endured shifts of up to 18 hours without proper breaks.
In Saudi Arabia, the “kafala” system remains largely unchanged, despite 2021 tweaks allowing greater worker mobility. Dependence on employers for visas and exit permits still fuels abuses, including document retention and debt from recruitment fees. Fosir Mia, a Bangladeshi worker who returned home after 17 months in Saudi Arabia, reported receiving pay for only ten months while enduring overcrowded housing and supervisor assaults at a site near Riyadh.
Fifa faces mounting criticism for not demanding stronger commitments from Saudi Arabia prior to awarding the hosting rights. The bid evaluation report, produced with the Saudi Football Federation, reviewed just 22 international human rights instruments, overlooking forced labor and discrimination—a move branded as “whitewashing” by Amnesty International experts.
Timeline of construction and looming challenges
Preparations for the 2034 World Cup follow an aggressive timeline, piling pressure on construction schedules. Key milestones include:
- 2025-2027: Groundbreaking for the 11 new stadiums, including Aramco and Neom.
- 2028-2030: Completion of new arenas and upgrades to the four existing ones.
- 2031-2033: Finalization of transportation, hotel, and training infrastructure.
- 2034: Project delivery and tournament kickoff, slated for the second half of the year.
This schedule demands vast resources and labor, heightening the risk of accidents and exploitation. Neom, set to host a flagship stadium, remains in early development, facing delays and budget cuts that could jeopardize progress.
Safety measures under question
Despite Saudi Arabia’s bid touting labor law advancements since 2016, Arshad’s case reveals tangible enforcement failures. Besix stated it is reviewing protocols post-incident, but his lack of anchorage raises doubts about on-site oversight. In a climate where temperatures can exceed 40°C and shifts often stretch beyond 12 hours, worker safety is critical to preventing further tragedies.
Saudi law mandates compensation for workplace deaths, and Arshad’s family is expected to receive support. However, activists argue such measures are stopgaps that fail to address root causes like inadequate training and tight deadlines. A 2013 Gulf region report already flagged overcrowded housing and wage delays as routine, a reality persisting and potentially worsening with the 2034 projects’ scale.
Migrant workers’ voices
Accounts from laborers who have worked in Saudi Arabia shed light on their challenges. Common experiences include:
- Shifts of 13 to 18 hours in extreme heat with minimal breaks.
- Housing shared by up to 12 people, lacking proper ventilation.
- Wages delayed or partially paid, leading to debt with recruiters.
- Passport retention, restricting freedom to leave or switch jobs.
These conditions, reported by workers like Fosir Mia and backed by international groups, clash with Saudi pledges of a tournament that “brings opportunity and accountability” to human rights, as outlined in its official bid. Arshad’s death is seen as an early warning that, without reform, the human cost of 2034 could rival past editions.
Global impact and pressure on Fifa
As Saudi Arabia advances its plans, the world watches closely. Its uncontested selection as host, following Australia’s 2023 withdrawal, eased Fifa’s decision but intensified scrutiny. Lawmakers from Norway and Germany have voiced concerns over absent labor guarantees, while fans and athletes, including British player Jake Daniels, worry about minority safety in the kingdom.
Calls for Fifa to impose stricter conditions grow as construction progresses. In October 2024, over 100 professional female players signed an open letter urging an end to Aramco’s Fifa sponsorship, labeling it “unacceptable” amid rights violations. Arshad’s death amplifies these demands, placing the 2034 tournament at the heart of a global debate on sports, ethics, and exploitation.
