Women Footballers Urge FIFA To End Saudi Aramco Sponsorship Deal.
More than 100 professional women footballers have signed an open letter urging FIFA to reconsider its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil giant Aramco, calling the partnership a “punch in the stomach” to the sport.
Earlier this year, FIFA announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Aramco, which will run until 2027. The agreement grants the company sponsorship rights to both the men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
The players, hailing from 24 different countries, have expressed their concerns about the deal on both humanitarian and environmental grounds. Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema, a Netherlands international and one of the signatories, shared her dismay in an interview with BBC Sport.
“As footballers, and especially as women 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 for what we as women footballers represent.”
She added, “FIFA constantly claims to want the game to be inclusive and to lead by example. If that’s truly the case, then make sure you align with sponsorships that reflect those values.”
In response to the criticism, FIFA told BBC Sport that it “values its partnership with Aramco” and emphasised that sponsorship revenues are reinvested into the women’s game at all levels.
The controversy surrounding the deal stems from accusations that Saudi Arabia is engaging in ‘sportswashing’—using high-profile sporting events to enhance its international reputation while downplaying issues related to human rights and environmental concerns.
