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.
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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 like climate change.
Although FIFA has agreed to form a women’s players’ committee this year, it is still in progress and not yet operational to address the concerns raised about the Aramco deal.
“I think as footballers, and especially as women’s footballers, we carry the responsibility to show the world and the next generation what is right,” Miedema said. “I think this sponsorship is not right for what FIFA stands for, but also what we as women footballers stand for.”