FIFA has announced that it will donate $50 million to three major global organizations—the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)—as part of its 2022 World Cup legacy fund.
The announcement was made in FIFA’s 2022 annual financial report, which revealed a gross profit of nearly $5.8 billion from the Qatar-hosted tournament.
The funds will support a range of initiatives, as FIFA will back a WHO project to protect workers in regions affected by extreme heat linked to climate change. The donation will also help support WTO programmes focused on empowering women to take advantage of international trade and the digital economy. For UNHCR, FIFA will assist refugees and displaced people from the Middle East and North Africa.
While FIFA’s announcement was framed as a positive contribution, it has faced backlash from human rights organisations. Amnesty International condemned the decision, criticising FIFA and Qatar for failing to provide compensation for the migrant workers who were reportedly exploited during the tournament’s preparation.
Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of labour rights and sport, stated, “It is shameful that FIFA and Qatar have launched their long-awaited legacy fund without any recognition of their clear responsibility towards the vast number of migrant workers who were exploited and, in many cases, died to make the 2022 World Cup possible.”
He added, “This legacy fund cannot be the end of the story. FIFA must finally do the right thing and provide meaningful remedy for all whose rights were violated and abused as a result of its flagship tournament.”
