Today's Article

CNN Correspondent: Saudi Arabia and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman have 1made no secret of their 2desire to become the world's sporting 3destination of choice. Now it's set to host the biggest prize of them all, the FIFA World Cup. It's the most 4controversial 5awarding of the tournament since that 6infamous day in December 2010 that saw Russia and Qatar given the 7nod for 2018 and 2022 8amidst 9corruption scandals and human rights concerns. 

“Do you think FIFA learned any lessons, Steve, good or bad, from the Qatar experience?”

“My fear is that the lesson they've learned from Qatar is that they can 10ride out the criticism.”

In Qatar, there was 11unprecedented levels of construction of stadiums and infrastructure. 12Migrant workers died in the process. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has 13pledged to build 11 new purpose-built 14venues. It was seen as a landmark moment in 2017 when FIFA became the first global sports body to write human rights commitments into the 15bidding process for its major events. But nearly eight years on, 16actions are speaking louder than words.

Lina al-Hathloul, Saudi Human Rights Activist: I think no organization, human rights organization has been consulted. And I will even add on that, Saudi Arabia has been 17forbidding human rights organizations from entering the country since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 18came to power.

CNN Correspondent: Lina al-Hathloul is a Saudi human rights 19activist. Hers is one of 11 organizations that recently raised concerns about FIFA's approach to Saudi's World Cup 20bid.