Over 100 women’s soccer players have signed an open letter to FIFA, urging the governing body to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi oil and gas company Aramco.
In April, FIFA announced a four-year global partnership with the majority state-owned oil giant, granting it sponsorship rights for the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The letter, signed by 108 current and former players from around the globe, described the deal as a “stomach punch” for women’s soccer, referencing Saudi Arabia’s troubling human rights record. Published on the advocacy group Athletes of the World’s website, the letter was backed by prominent players like Manchester City’s Vivianne Miedema and former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn.
Addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the letter stated, “The Saudi authorities trample not only on the rights of women, but on the freedom of all other citizens too.” It further said, “Imagine LGBTQ+ players, many of whom are heroes of our sport, being expected to promote Saudi Aramco during the 2027 World Cup, the national oil company of a regime that criminalises the relationships that they are in and the values they stand for?”
Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia, though the country claimed last year that LGBTQ tourists are welcome.
When asked about the open letter, a FIFA spokesperson told the media that the organisation “values its partnership with Aramco and its many other commercial and rights partners.” They added that FIFA is “an inclusive organisation,” and sponsorship revenues are reinvested into the game at all levels, with increasing investments in women’s football, including the 2023 Women’s World Cup and its new distribution model.
Saudi Arabia has often been accused of “sportswashing,” where countries use major sporting events to improve their international image, distracting from controversial practices. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, however, has dismissed these criticisms. In a 2023 interview he stated, “If sportswashing increases my GDP by one percent, I will continue doing it.”
In addition to human rights concerns, the letter also criticised Aramco’s environmental impact, noting that the company is “one of the corporations most responsible for jeopardizing football’s future” due to its contributions to climate change. Aramco is the largest oil and gas company in terms of revenue, production, and value. In 2022, it produced 12.8 million barrels of oil per day, far outpacing any other company. While U.S. companies produce more combined, Aramco remains a significant global player, according to a 2023 U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis.
“Grassroots football across the world is being smashed by extreme heat, drought, fires and floods, but as we all pay the consequences Saudi Arabia rakes in its profits, with FIFA as its cheerleader,” the letter reads. The company already sponsors other sports, including Formula 1 and women’s golf.
On its website, Aramco claims a commitment to environmental protection while achieving “greater efficiency and cost competitiveness.” In late 2021, the company announced its first emissions target, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the independent think tank Carbon Tracker labeled Aramco as the “world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter,” and criticised it for having “the weakest climate pledges among major listed oil and gas companies.”
The letter concludes by urging FIFA to reconsider its partnership with Aramco and seek sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights, and sustainability. It also proposed creating a review committee with player representation to assess the ethical implications of future sponsorship deals and ensure alignment with football’s values and goals.
