“‘Many migrant workers will die’: the likely human cost of awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia”

When Shahadat set out for Saudi Arabia from his village in Bangladesh, he was driven by a single purpose: to earn money…

Then it all began to unravel. An employer failed to renew his residence permit, turning him into an undocumented worker. His health began to suffer, but his irregular status meant it would have been difficult to access medical care.

He struggled to find work. Instead of sending money home, he had to borrow more to survive. He was so desperate he took on jobs on construction sites in exchange for only food and board…

Over the past months, a host of human rights groups have raised concerns about the alleged abuse of migrant workers and the risks of awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia…

…At least 13,685 Bangladeshis died in Saudi Arabia between 2008 and 2022, according to Bangladeshi government records…

Saudi Arabia is a nation powered not just by oil, but by cheap labour. They come in their millions, from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and beyond. They will build the promised 11 new stadiums, transport networks and 185,000 hotel rooms. Without them there would be no World Cup…