FIFA urged to end Saudi Aramco partnership by women footballers

On Monday, over 100 professional women’s footballers issued an open letter to FIFA, urging the organization to end its partnership with oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco. FIFA signed a four-year deal in April, making Aramco a global partner for major tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in sports such as football, Formula One, and golf in recent years, but critics—including women’s rights groups and members of the LGBTQ community—accuse the kingdom of using its Public Investment Fund (PIF) to "sportswash" its human rights record. The Saudi government denies these allegations, claiming its laws are necessary for national security.

Among the signees of the letter were Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema, Canada captain Jessie Fleming, and former U.S. captain Becky Sauerbrunn. The players urged FIFA to reconsider the partnership, calling for sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability.

They also suggested the creation of a review committee, with player representation, to assess the ethical implications of future sponsorship deals.

FIFA defended the partnership, emphasizing the importance of sponsorship revenues in growing the women’s game. "FIFA values its partnership with Aramco and many other commercial and rights partners," a spokesperson said. They added that the money generated from sponsorships is reinvested at all levels of the game, citing the increased investment in women’s football, including the historic 2023 Women’s World Cup and its new distribution model.

Aramco responded by stating that they would address the letter at the earliest opportunity.