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Women soccer players call on FIFA to drop Saudi Aramco as sponsor Players said a partnership with the nation was worse than an own goal because of its human rights reputation on the global stage. PARIS (AFP) — More than 100 female professional soccer players from 24 countries have called on the sport’s governing body FIFA to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil giant Aramco, citing human rights issues and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community as well as environmental concerns. In an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the players said the “Aramco sponsorship is a middle finger to women’s football,” as the sport is known in much of the world. FIFA brought Aramco, 98.5% owned by the Saudi state, on board as a major sponsor earlier this year in a deal that runs through to 2027, a period during which there will be the men’s and women’s World Cups — in 2026 and a year later. The oil giant’s sponsorship, the players argued in their letter, was “much worse than an own goal for football.” “FIFA might as well pour oil on the pitch and set it alight. Our job as professional players has been a dream for us and is a dream for the girls who will be the players of the future,” t…

FIFA urged to drop Saudi sponsorship deal - Sport Industry More than 100 professional women’s footballers have urged FIFA to cancel its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil giant Aramco. Football’s global governing body announced the deal earlier this year, giving Aramco sponsorship rights for the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Players from 24 countries have now asked FIFA to reconsider, citing concerns over human rights and environmental issues. Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for its record on women’s rights, alleged human rights violations, and the criminalisation of homosexuality in the country. HAVE YOU ALSO READ?:Opinion – What lies ahead for women’s sports post-World Cup fever? Aramco, identified by Carbon Tracker as “the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter,” already sponsors Formula One, the Ladies European Tour in golf, and partners with the International Cricket Council. Aramco has not commented on the letter, but has previously stated it has “one of the lowest upstream carbon footprints in the industry.” The campaign has been supported by ‘Athletes of the World’, an organisation that unites sportspeople to advocate on global issues l…

Players Call for Fifa to Drop Aramco Sponsorship Text: Lara Palmer 08.12.2024 Female footballers lead the charge against fossil fuel promotion in sports At the Cop29 climate conference last month, Sofie Junge Pedersen and Katie Rood once again urged Fifa to terminate its sponsorship agreement with Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco. They were part of a group of over 130 female players who signed an open letter in October, characterizing the partnership as a 'middle finger to women’s football' that would inflict significant harm on both people and the planet. Following the publication of the letter, I voiced my support for their initiative, hoping that other male professional players would join me. The women received widespread praise for their stance, but their male counterparts have yet to follow suit. On Wednesday, Fifa is expected to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 men’s World Cup. Men’s and women’s football operate in vastly different spheres. Women’s football has a legacy of players advocating for equality and inclusion, both within the sport and beyond. Their careers have often been marked by financial instability, underinvestment, and a necessity to focus on …

Fifa urged to drop Saudi oil giant Aramco as activists target World Cup <p>Fifa has defended its Aramco sponsorship, saying revenues are reinvested back into football at all levels</p><p>As scorching temperatures beat down on <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/world-cup-2026">World Cup</a> soccer games across North America, climate activists – including former and current professional athletes – are calling for Fifa and other professional sporting organizations to cut ties with the oil and gas industry.</p><p>“Sport, especially football, has the power to influence and inspire billions of people,” said David Wheeler, an English former professional footballer, who supports the campaign. “Fifa should be harnessing that power to do good.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/19/activists-world-cup-fifa-aramco-oil-partnership">Continue reading...</a>

Climate Activists to Protest Fossil Fuel Sponsorships at U.S. FIFA ... June 10, 2026 On June 21, climate activists will protest fossil fuel sponsorships at five FIFA World Cup stadiums and six other arenas in the U.S. that are home to pro baseball, basketball and soccer teams sponsored by fossil fuel interests. FIFA World Cup's main sponsor, Saudi Aramco , is the world's largest oil and gas company and this World Cup is expected to be the most polluting in history. Teams at other protest sites include the Los Angeles Dodgers, sponsored by oil giant Phillips 66, and the Portland Timbers, a soccer club sponsored by Bank of America, also a FIFA World Cup sponsor and one of the world’s largest corporate funders of the fossil fuel industry. Full stadium protest list below. Some World Cup protests will take place adjacent to stadiums because of parking and ticketing restrictions. The growing global movement against sportswashing surged to new heights in May when 2026 World Cup player Morten Thorsby of Norway joined footballers around the world in signing a petition urging FIFA to adopt stronger heat protections and drop fossil fuel sponsors. Now, Brent Suter of the L.A. Angels has becom…

More than 100 female professional footballers criticize Fifa's ... Article 22 Nov 2024 Author: Isaiah Akinremi, BBC - London More than 100 female professional footballers criticize Fifa's partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco over allegations of human rights violations; Incl. co. responses Read more “Ex-Super Falcon says Fifa putting money 'over humanity”, 22 November 2024 Last month, more than 100 female professional footballers from across the globe came together to criticize Fifa's partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco, denouncing the deal on environmental and humanitarian grounds. Now, following the United Nations' COP29 climate summit, the only African who signed the open letter, external has revealed why she took part in the protest. Former Nigeria international Ayisat Yusuf has described Fifa's decision to work with Aramco as "not justifiable", despite football's governing body stating that sponsorship revenues are reinvested back into the women's game "at all levels". "Fifa don't have to take money above humanity," Yusuf told BBC Sport Africa. "It's very important we let people know that partnership - giving sponsorship to Aramco - does not stand for what our values [a…

Women footballers call on FIFA to drop Saudi Aramco as sponsor More than 100 female professional footballers from 24 countries have called on the sport's governing body FIFA to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil giant Aramco, citing human rights issues and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community as well as environmental concerns. In an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the players said the “Aramco sponsorship is a middle finger to women’s football”. ? Aramco sponsorship is a middle finger to women’s football❗️ JUST IN: Open letter from 100+ female players to FIFA and its President criticizes the Aramco deal for neglecting human rights and sustainability. Propose a review committee with player representation. Link?pic.twitter.com/WPGrtSaHr5 — Stanis Elsborg (@StanisElsborg)October 21, 2024 FIFA brought Aramco, 98.5 percent-owned by the Saudi state, on board as a major sponsor earlier this year in a deal that runs through to 2027, a period during which there will be the men’s and women’s World Cups — in 2026 and a year later. The oil giant’s sponsorship, the female footballers argued in their letter, was “much worse than an own goal for football”. “FIFA might a…

Women soccer players call on FIFA to cut ties with Saudi oil giant Aramco Aramco headquarters seen in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on May 23, 2018. Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters Oil & gas Soccer The Middle East Human rights See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow More than 100 soccer players from the women’s game have signed an open letter to FIFA , urging the sport’s world governing body to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil and gas company Aramco. In April this year, FIFA announced a four-year global partnership with the majority state-owned oil giant, giving it sponsorship rights to the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The letter, signed by over 125 current and former players from across the world, called the deal a “stomach punch” for the women’s game, citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Published on advocacy group Athletes of the World’s website, the letter was signed by several high-profile players such as Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema and former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn. Stands are prepared for visitors during the opening ceremony of 2024 Esports World Cup is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 2. Mohammed Sa…

Climate Activists to Protest Fossil Fuel Sponsorships at FIFA World Cup ... June 10, 2026 On June 21, climate activists will protest fossil fuel sponsorships at five FIFA World Cup stadiums and six other arenas in the U.S. that are home to pro baseball, basketball and soccer teams sponsored by fossil fuel interests. FIFA World Cup's main sponsor, Saudi Aramco , is the world's largest oil and gas company and this World Cup is expected to be the most polluting in history. Teams at other protest sites include the Los Angeles Dodgers, sponsored by oil giant Phillips 66, and the Portland Timbers, a soccer club sponsored by Bank of America, also a FIFA World Cup sponsor and one of the world’s largest corporate funders of the fossil fuel industry. Full stadium protest list below. Some World Cup protests will take place adjacent to stadiums because of parking and ticketing restrictions. The growing global movement against sportswashing surged to new heights in May when 2026 World Cup player Morten Thorsby of Norway joined footballers around the world in signing a petition urging FIFA to adopt stronger heat protections and drop fossil fuel sponsors. Now, Brent Suter of the L.A. Angels has …