LGBTQ football fans will be safe in 2034 World Cup, says Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, has assured the English Football Association (FA) that LGBTQ fans will be "safe and welcome" at the event.

The promise was made after the Kingdom’s successful bid to host the prestigious tournament.

FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) confirmed in an official statement that Saudi Arabia will host the event in 2024.

However, the bid ignited a debate in Western media about human rights in the Kingdom, which FIFA eventually addressed.

President Gianni Infantino announced that the organisation will always make sure that it remains committed to include all fans. 

"We are, of course, aware of critics and fears, and I fully trust our hosts to address all open points from this process and deliver a FIFA World Cup which meets expectations," Infantino said.

The Football Association has emphasised its support for Saudi Arabia's bid while assuring that during the discussions with Saudi football officials last month, everything was talked about.

In the official statement, the football association explained its decision to back the bid, saying: "We asked [Saudi Arabia] to commit to ensuring all fans would be safe and welcome in Saudi Arabia in 2034 – including LGBTQ+ fans. They assured us that they are fully committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all fans."

"Football is a global game and is for everyone. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means being respectful of all, including all religions and cultures," the FA said.

Moreover, football’s governing body expressed optimism that hosting events like World Cups on such a scale can drive positive societal changes as the statement read, "We believe hosting World Cups can be a catalyst for positive change, which is best delivered by working collaboratively in partnership with host nations. We will work with FIFA and UEFA to ensure commitments to respect all human rights are delivered."

The bid and its success came out as a significant milestone in the kingdom's expanding influence in global sport. 

Simultaneously, the world football governing body also confirmed that Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will be joint hosts of the 2030 World Cup, in which three games will also be played in South America.