FIFA accused of damaging women's football as over 100 players sign letter demanding end to Saudi Arabian oil company partnership

Saudi Aramco, the country's national oil company, was announced as a major worldwide partner with FIFA in April and as a result it will hold sponsorship rights for the 2026 men's World Cup and the 2027 women's World Cup. Now, according to The Athletic, 106 women's footballers from 24 countries have signed an open letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino criticising the partnership with the company.

The letter, which has been signed by the likes of USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn, Canada skipper Jessie Fleming and Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema, draws attention to Saudi's negative record on women's and LGBTQ+ rights. Concerns were also raised about Saudi's apparent disregard for trying to reduce their carbon footprint.

The letter reads: “FIFA’s announcement of Saudi Aramco as its ‘major’ partner has set us so far back that it’s hard to fully take in. The Saudi authorities trample not only on the rights of women, but on the freedom of all other citizens too. Imagine LGBTQ+ players, many of whom are heroes of our sport, being expected to promote Saudi Aramco during the 2027 World Cup, the national oil company of a regime that criminalises the relationships that they are in and the values they stand for?”

It concludes: “We urge FIFA to reconsider this partnership and replace Saudi Aramco with alternative sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights and the safe future of our planet.”

Portland Thorns defender Sauerbrunn said: “The fact that FIFA is aligning itself with a company and regime that treats women in this way is condemnable, and as female players at the top of our sport we’re using our voices to say this is not a partnership we can support. The safety of those women, the rights of women, LGBTQ+ rights and the health of the planet need to take a much bigger priority over FIFA making more money.”

In response, FIFA stated the revenue generated from deals such as the Aramco one is reinvested into the women's game.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA values its partnership with Aramco and its many others commercial and rights partners. Sponsorship revenues generated by FIFA are reinvested back into the game at all levels and investment in women’s football continues to increase, including for the historic FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and its groundbreaking new distribution model. FIFA’s updated Women’s Football Strategy for 2023-2027 further highlights how commercial revenues are reinvested back into the development of the women’s game."

Last year, FIFA had planned to unveil Visit Saudi, the country's tourism board, as a sponsor for the 2023 women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. However, the proposal was dropped after a hefty backlash. Whether this partnership meets the same fate remains to be seen.