With the tournament set to begin on Dec. 21 across six major cities, and with an eye on co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, the Moroccan government has allegedly launched an intensified campaign to clear urban areas of stray animals.
The International Union for the Protection of Animals (IAWPC) has compiled photos and videos showing stray dogs injured, dead or lying in pools of blood near residential areas or Morocco and submitted them to FIFA in recent months in an attempt to pressure the world football governing body to hold the North African nation accountable.
“Why is Morocco killing thousands of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup?” CNN asked in an article in June, posting images and testimonies from citizens.
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Stray dogs in Morocco. Photo by AFP |
According to L’Équipe, the brutal campaign continued despite high-level disapproval. A source told the French newspaper that King of Morocco Mohammed VI was reportedly displeased with the government’s approach.
In 2019, following warnings from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, King Mohammed VI personally pushed for a multi-ministerial agreement adopting the CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) method as the official state policy.
Despite a disbursement of over $25 million by the royal family to support this agreement, the aspiration remains on paper. Six years later, the killing of stray dogs continued on the streets. L’Équipe reports scenes of children rushing from their homes to protect the screaming animals have become common in Morocco.
“If funds were allocated, they were probably misappropriated,” said Debbie Wilson, co-leader of the IAWPC campaign.
Morocco has been dealing with several million stray dogs scattered across the country, with reported cases of people being bitten every week. The atmosphere is therefore always tense before any major event.
Wilson, a psychotherapist and animal rights activist, notes a disturbing pattern: as the closer to major events, the more the slaughter of stray dogs increases. She first noticed this in 2023, when FIFA visited Tangier to discuss the possibility of hosting the World Cup.
In November 2024, FIFA’s evaluation report on Morocco’s World Cup bid claimed the country demonstrated a “commitment to the protection of animal rights,” asserting that from August 2024, the killing of animals has been banned in the country.
However, an investigation by L’Équipe contradicts this. During the same period, no new animal welfare laws were enacted. Instead, local authorities were found to be ordering ammunition specifically designed for shooting animals. One approved purchase order from late November 2024 read: “Pack of 25 cartridges for culling stray dogs; 12 gauge; quantity: 80.”
New confusing law and FIFA’s stance
A FIFA spokesperson recently told The Telegraph that they have received confirmation of measures implemented over the past five years and noted that a new law is being drafted.
This draft legislation, known unofficially as “Draft Law 19.25,” has drawn mixed reactions. While it proposes increased penalties for animal cruelty, Article 5 was criticized, stating that “it is forbidden for any person to take care of a stray animal, whether by sheltering it, feeding it, or treating it.”
However, the draft also significantly strengthens the penalties for those who inflict cruelty on animals in Article 36, showing contradiction and making it difficult to know precisely where the legislative process stands.
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A worker leads a dog into the veterinary center in Morocco’s capital Rabat. Photo by AFP |
Zainab Taqane, founder of the Moroccan Association for Animal and Environmental Protection (IRHAM), expressed deep concern over Article 13 of the draft, which grants local councils the authority to establish shelters. Taqane argues this is problematic because these same local bodies have historically been responsible for the systematic culling campaign of stray dogs.
“For FIFA, it’s a nightmare,” Wilson commented. “The slaughter of stray dogs and its consequences for the population are now inextricably linked to FIFA and the upcoming World Cup.”
The ties between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Morocco are well established. In March 2024, he announced that the country would host the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup every year until 2029. In July 2025, he also took the time to inaugurate an office in Rabat, FIFA’s first in North Africa.
The controversy comes amid broader social problems. In October, Morocco witnessed protests led by Gen Z groups, who argued that the massive investment in the 2025 CAN and 2030 World Cup has led the government to neglect other critical social issues.
