FIFA will give $50 million to the WHO, WTO and UNHCR as part of its Qatar World Cup legacy fund, football’s global governing body announced on Wednesday.
In its 2022 annual financial report, FIFA announced a gross profit of nearly $5.8 billion from the tournament in Qatar that year.
FIFA will support a World Health Organization initiative which helps protect people working in regions exposed to extreme heat linked to climate change.
In partnership with the World Trade Organization, FIFA will also support a programme aimed at helping women exploit the opportunities of international trade and the digital economy.
With refugee agency UNHCR, it will help support refugees and displaced people from the Middle East and North Africa.
Qatar faced criticism when it hosted the tournament two years ago, over labour rights and its treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
Amnesty International hit out at Wednesday’s announcement, saying it did not include any compensation for affected workers.
“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,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of labour rights and sport.
“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,” he added.
