Bonita Mersiades is a FIFA whistleblower and a former head of corporate and public affairs at Football Australia. She played a key role in Australia's bid to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, a bidding season at the heart of a major FIFA corruption scandal that led to the indictment of 14 officials and executives.

After she was fired in 2010, Mersiades became a prominent whistleblower and helped expose "the FIFA way," the culture of bribery and corruption within FIFA. Her efforts contributed to investigations that led to high-profile FIFA arrests in 2015. She is the author of "Whatever It Takes: The Inside Story of the FIFA Way" and the founder of Fair Play Publishing, a company specializing in nonfiction stories about football.

Mersiades speaks with Business Insider about the ongoing culture of corruption within FIFA, the controversial 2018 and 2022 selections of Russia and Qatar, and the history of misconduct and misogyny within the world of football. She speaks about the future of the World Cup tournament, which has been awarded to Saudi Arabia for 2034.

For more: https://www.amazon.com.au/Whatever-Takes-Inside-Story-FIFA/dp/1925914682

Two years after the World Cup was played in Qatar, where human rights were questioned, FIFA is running back a similar template a decade from now.

The organization announced Wednesday the 2034 World Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia was the only country to submit a bid prior to the Oct. 31, 2023, deadline.

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Qatar hosted the tournament last year, which was won by Argentina, and the country was dogged by years-long allegations of rights abuses of migrant workers needed to build its stadiums.

However, FIFA and Saudi officials have said hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday calling the World Cup a "unique catalyst for positive social change and unity."

The win will kick off a decade of scrutiny on Saudi labor laws and treatment of workers needed to help build and upgrade 15 stadiums, hotels and transportation networks ahead of the 104-game tournament.

During the bid campaign, FIFA has accepted limited scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record that was widely criticized this year at the United Nations.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TAPS INTO UNCHARTERED TERRITORY WITH STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Saudi and international rights groups and activists warned FIFA it has not learned the lessons of Qatar’s much-criticized preparations to host the 2022 World Cup.

"At every stage of this bidding process, FIFA has shown its commitment to human rights to be a sham," said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of labor rights and sport, who added that it is "reckless" to have Saudi Arabia host. Cockburn also said "many lives" will be "at risk."

The Saudis have dipped into the sports world with the Public Investment Fund financially backing LIV Golf. Cristiano Ronaldo, who said in an X post he expects the 2034 Cup to be "the best … ever," also joined a league in Saudi Arabia in 2022, making $75 million annually.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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