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Last week, co-hosts Australia and New Zealand
wrote to FIFA seeking urgent clarification after the Guardian
reported Visit Saudi will be named as a major sponsor of the
July 20-Aug. 20 tournament.
"U.S. Soccer strongly supports human rights and equity for all
and believes in the power of our sport to have a positive
impact," the USSF said in a statement to the Athletic.
"While we cannot control how other organisations manage
sponsorship selections for the tournaments we compete in, we can
voice our concerns and will continue to support our players."
The United States are FIFA's top ranked team and won the last
two editions of the World Cup.
The Guardian report triggered outrage in both host countries,
with human rights activists and sportswomen saying Saudi
sponsorship would be at odds with the tournament's messaging on
empowerment of women and girls.
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has introduced
reforms allowing women greater control over their lives in
recent years but men still retain a tight grip on power in the
kingdom.
Veteran U.S. forward Alex Morgan, who won the World Cup in 2015
and 2019, described the potential sponsorship as "bizarre".
"Morally, it just doesn't make sense," Morgan told reporters on
Wednesday. "I just don't understand it ... I really hope that
FIFA does the right thing."
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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