FIFA wants to let Visit Saudi sponsor this year’s women’s soccer World Cup, one of the biggest events in women’s sport in history. Say no!

Players, soccer fans and anyone who thinks women and LGBTQIA+ people are fully human are appalled by FIFA letting Visit Saudi sponsor the Women’s World Cup. 

This isn’t about supporting women’s sport. This is about an oppressive and violent regime - where women need a male guardian’s permission for basic decisions throughout their lives, and where homosexuality is still illegal - buying “legitimacy” so they can diversify their economy and make more money.

What happens if this goes ahead? Do women, including LGBTQI+ players, need to wear on their kit the logo of a country that considers them less than fully human? Do they need to thank them in speeches? Do we need to see their logo plastered around a stadium, giving the impression of approval for their oppression and violence, when we approve nothing of the sort?

The host nations Australian and NZ's football federations said it best in their letter to FIFA protesting the plan:

”Australia and New Zealand, both as sovereign nations and as football associations, have for decades placed the utmost importance on gender equality, and have sought to promote these ideals around the world. While we acknowledge some important and positive gender equality reforms have commenced in Saudi Arabia, it remains undeniable under any reasonable standard that the rights of women remain severely restricted.”

Sign now to send a message to Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, that until Saudi women and LGBTQIA+ people have full legal and cultural freedom, agency and personhood, their money is not welcome here.