World Cup
For World Cup sake, Saudi set to welcome Lesbians and gays
Hammad Albalawi, head of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid unit, said his country welcomes all visitors, including LGBTQ people and their bid to host the 48-team showpiece event has nothing to do with ‘sportswashing’ their human rights record.
Global governing body FIFA limited the 2034 contest to bidders from the Asian and Oceania confederations as Morocco, Portugal and Spain will share the hosting of the 2030 tournament.
The hosts are set to be officially appointed at the FIFA Congress on Dec. 11 and Saudi Arabia’s bid is almost certain to succeed due to the absence of any other expressions of interest before FIFA’s deadline late last year.
In August, Amnesty International said Saudi Arabia failed to meet FIFA’s own human rights requirements in their bid for the 2034 men’s World Cup and called for urgent action to improve the nation’s human rights protections.
There are no public advocacy groups for LGBTQ people in the Kingdom and while Saudi’s state law is uncodified, it is understood by Amnesty, opens new tab that people can be sentenced to death if it is proven they have engaged in same-sex sexual acts.
“You will be respected,” Albalawi told Sky Sports when asked about LGBTQ fans visiting his country. “You will be welcome in Saudi Arabia as that respect and welcome is to everyone from all around the world.
“We respect the privacy of all of our guests. We have seen millions of guests come to Saudi Arabia in the last few years. We’ve hosted over a hundred sporting events attended by more than three million fans who have enjoyed their experience.
“People need to educate themselves about the Kingdom and the best way to do that is to come and visit. They will find hospitable Saudis. We would love to receive all of our guests.”
In May 2023, Saudi’s government-run tourism website said in a statement under general information for LGBT visitors, “We ask that visitors respect our culture and traditions and follow our laws as they would when visiting any other country in the world.”
“Like other governments around the world, visitors are not required to disclose their personal information and we will respect visitors right to privacy.”
The Saudis have invested heavily in high-profile sports such as soccer, Formula One, boxing and golf over the last few years, leading critics, including Amnesty International, to accuse the oil-rich kingdom of “sportswashing” its human rights record.
Albalawi denied accusations of sportswashing and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to Vision 2030 while speaking with both local and international media.
HAPPIER LIVES
“We’re not doing this to make a headline, we’re doing this for our people,” Albalawi said. “We are investing to make sure that Saudis live longer and happier lives and that’s something that we’re very proud of.”
Vision 2030, launched in 2016, led by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the driving force behind recent reforms, aims to diversify the country’s oil-reliant economy by boosting tourism and enhancing urban life through cultural and heritage events and sports.
“If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we’ll continue sportswashing,” Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview with Fox News last year.
An independent human rights context analysis, prepared in collaboration with Saudi and British law firms, Abuhimed Alsheikh Alhagbani (AS&H) Clifford Chance for the bid, failed to address several human rights issues, Amnesty said.
The document, which only involved input from governmental bodies, did not consult any civil society organisations or rights-holders in its preparation, Amnesty added.
Dana Ahmed, a researcher at Amnesty, told Reuters in June that while the organisation was able to conduct research on migrant workers in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, which resulted in reforms, they have been denied similar access in Saudi Arabia.
Another Amnesty report from June said a number of key human rights risks tied to hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup also remain unaddressed.
-Reuters
By Kunle Solaja.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has unveiled Google Gemini as the official Artificial Intelligence partner of Morocco’s national football team in a move aimed at boosting fan engagement and enhancing the digital presence of the Atlas Lions.
The partnership, announced ahead of a busy football calendar in May, June and July, will see the federation collaborate with Google Gemini to deploy advanced AI technologies in support of the Moroccan national team.
According to the federation, the strategic alliance is designed to strengthen communication channels with supporters, promote Moroccan football talent both locally and internationally, and showcase the country’s deep passion for the game to a global audience.
Powered by Google’s artificial intelligence technology, Google Gemini will work with the Moroccan federation on a range of digital and interactive initiatives tailored for football fans. The projects are expected to provide innovative experiences for supporters within Morocco and across the world, bringing fans closer to the Atlas Lions.
Among the features highlighted are the use of Gemini’s text-to-image technology, which allows fans to create personalised visuals in support of the national team, as well as the Lyria music-generation model that enables supporters to compose fan songs and recreate stadium atmospheres digitally.
The AI platform will also help fans better understand football by simplifying complex rules, analysing match performances and even predicting possible winners.
Speaking on the partnership, Najib Jarrar described the collaboration as an important step in connecting technology with sport.
“We are proud to support the Moroccan National Team, which honours Moroccan football with its global achievements during this important phase,” Jarrar said.
“Through Google Gemini, we seek to employ the power of AI to elevate the fan experience and celebrate the rich history of Moroccan football. This partnership is not just about technology; it also aims to strengthen the bonds between fans and the sport they love in deeper and more impactful ways.”
Morocco’s national team, popularly known as the Atlas Lions, gained global acclaim after becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
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Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has hinted that the upcoming FIFA World Cup could mark the final chapter of his illustrious international career after announcing that he has joined what he described as his “last training camp” with the national team.
The 40-year-old shot stopper is widely expected to be named in coach Javier Aguirre’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host alongside the United States and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
In an emotional message posted on social media on Monday, Ochoa reflected on his long journey with the Mexican national team.
“Putting this shirt on again was never routine … it was a privilege,” he wrote. “Today begins my last training camp. But this time I see it differently. With a fuller heart, more scars, more memories, and the same excitement as the child who once dreamed of defending this badge.”
If selected, Ochoa will join an exclusive group of players to feature in six FIFA World Cups, alongside football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The experienced goalkeeper previously represented Mexico at the Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups.
Ochoa, who currently plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, also recently suggested that the tournament could signal the end of his professional career.
Speaking to Mexican broadcaster TUDN last month, he admitted that the World Cup “could be the end for me after the World Cup” as he prepares for what is expected to be his final season in football.
“I’ve experienced unforgettable nights, endless matches, anthems that still give me goosebumps, and moments that changed my life forever,” Ochoa added in his social media post.
“And still, every time Mexico calls, something inside me begins again.”
Widely regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest goalkeepers, Ochoa has earned more than 150 international caps and produced several memorable World Cup performances during his career.
Among his standout moments were a remarkable display against Brazil at the 2014 World Cup and his penalty save from Poland captain Robert Lewandowski during the Qatar 2022 tournament.
Mexico will continue their preparations for the World Cup with friendly matches against Ghana on May 22, Australia on May 30 and Serbia on June 4 before opening their Group A campaign against South Africa on June 11.
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Mexico’s education authorities agreed on Monday to keep the 2025-2026 school calendar unchanged, reversing a proposed early end to the academic year that had drawn criticism from parents and raised questions about disruptions linked to the World Cup.
Related Story: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/05/09/mexico-president-wavers-on-plan-to-cut-school-year-by-40-days-for-the-world-cup/
The federal education ministry and state authorities unanimously agreed to preserve the existing 185-day school calendar, Education Minister Mario Delgado said, meaning the school year will still end on July 15 as originally scheduled.
Delgado said the agreement came in response to a call from President Claudia Sheinbaum, while also giving certainty to millions of Mexican families that organise their daily routines around the school calendar.
Authorities said states could still make local adjustments in extraordinary circumstances, including extreme heat or logistical challenges related to the World Cup.
Delgado had previously floated ending the school year on June 5 instead of July 15, citing high temperatures and the need to ease pressure in host cities during the tournament, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada.
-Reuters
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