The International Federation of Association Football, or FIFA, has decided to host the 2034 game in Saudi Arabia, but questions have been raised about whether this is a good idea.

Saudi Arabia has been criticized for human rights violations in the past years. For example, freedom of speech has been oppressed, and concerns have risen about the treatment of migrant workers in the area. Another big problem is women’s rights. For example, women were allowed only to watch matches in the stadium in 2018, but now there is a women’s soccer league in FIFA, and 70,000 women are playing.

Campaigners still acknowledge that there have been a few important changes, but there continue to be big problems in Saudi Arabian society.

Another problem is “sportswashing,” which is using sports to hide immoral parts of a country’s society. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest soccer players according to BBC, is on their team, attracting fans to Saudi Arabia’s sports, and almost ignoring the huge problems in the country.

The country denies the use of sportswashing, though, and says that it is just to “modernize” the country and make it less reliant on fossil fuels.

According to BBC.co, “[Saudi Arabia] is the world’s biggest exporter of oil and has been accused by campaigners of adding to climate change through its fossil-fuel industry, and of blocking climate action.”

They have 15 stadiums, 8 of which are in construction and 3, yet to be built. These stadiums are far apart, so fans will likely have to use a lot of air travel. This increases carbon dioxide emissions, worsening air pollution.

In reassurance, though, Amad Albalawi said, “… there’s been, 12 World Cups in Europe. Five World Cups in South America. There’s been a World Cup in Africa and only two in Asia. I think this is a region that is very much hungry for more – to do more in football.”