The top priority of FIFA is always money. Due to this reason, the fight becomes more complicated, especially for women and LGBTQ+ rights. The struggle has now turned into the form of a battle between wealthy Gulf nations and the increasing success of women in sports. Women’s strong power has marked their name in the ground of sports. Women’s sports become more famous and profitable. Due to this popularity, they started to challenge the financial power of Gulf nations. These countries often use their money to shape sports’ final results according to their interests. The main focus of FIFA is always financial gain.
Equal rights for women do not matter. However, women’s increasing influence with time could result in more inclusion and fairness. But strong and wealthy Gulf nations are the great hindrances on the path to progress. This situation highlights the conflict between sports and money. This fight limits how much change can actually happen for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights in football.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Bin Salman, does not have any interest in sports. There is no proof that he watched or played any games. However, this idea is most likely guesswork rather than a real fact.
What are the real plans of the Saudi Crown Prince?
At the initial stage, he planned to make his nation popular for tourists and a worldwide business hub. MBS wants the same popularity as Dubai. Soon this plan is expanded because he aims to spend a lot of money on sports. This highlights that Saudi Arabia uses sports to improve its image on the global stage.
Despite the fact that he does not have any interest in football, MBS is ready to make a big investment in sports to attain his goal. This objective is related to making Saudi Arabia’s economy independent. Furthermore, the nation also wants to increase its influence at the international level. MBS supports sports to attract the attention of visitors. In this way, the nation gets more business opportunities. This helps to create a more diverse and modern economy for the future.
The 39-year-old man puts all his efforts into football. According to him, the Saudi nation not only violates women’s rights but also doesn’t pay attention to the freedom of all its citizens. He points out the troubled issues that LGBTQ+ players face. These players are supposed to be heroes of sports.
He questions what it means for them to promote Saudi Aramco during the 2027 World Cup. This company is tied to a government that punishes people for their relationships and does not support the values that LGBTQ+ individuals represent.
This situation creates a contradiction between the sports world and human rights. Players could be compelled to show favoritism in a regime that opposed their beliefs and identities. It raises important questions about whether sports can coexist with governments that do not respect basic rights.
It is getting harder to dismiss calls for change as women’s football becomes an increasingly important component of FIFA’s earnings. Prominent athletes, such as the current Canadian, Italian, and Croatian national team leaders, have shown a strong commitment to the cause. The idea is also receiving support from former Afghan and US captains.
These 106 players collectively represent 24 nations and have played in more than 2,300 international matches.
Their wealth of experience demonstrates how talented women’s football is. In addition to presenting the players’ dedication to the game, this support highlights how urgently women’s football needs additional funding and support.
FIFA and other regulatory organizations must acknowledge the growing popularity and impact of the sport and take appropriate action to ensure that women’s football gets the support and funding it merits. The game may have a better future as a result.