U.S. women’s national team star Alex Morgan made her thoughts clear on Wednesday about FIFA’s potential partnership with Visit Saudi, the tourism advisory for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the 2023 World Cup.
“I think it’s bizarre that FIFA has looked to have a Visit Saudi sponsorship for the women’s World Cup when I myself, Alex Morgan, would not even be supported and accepted in that country,” she said in media availability prior to the SheBelieves Cup against Brazil, Japan and Canada next week.
FIFA has reportedly explored partnering with Saudi Arabia without input from 2023 host nations Australia and New Zealand, sparking outrage from human rights groups and federations alike.
“It would be quite the irony for Saudi’s tourism body to sponsor the largest celebration of women’s sport in the world when you consider that, as a woman in Saudi Arabia, you can’t even have a job without the permission of your male guardian,” Amnesty International Australia campaigner Nikita White told Reuters.
New Zealand Football also told Reuters: “If these reports prove correct, we are shocked and disappointed to hear this as New Zealand Football haven’t been consulted by FIFA at all on this matter.”
Morgan suggested other…
