Thousands of dogs have already been captured and killed as Morocco prepares its bid for the FIFA World Cup next month, with animal welfare campaigners warning the situation could escalate further.
Animal welfare organizations report that Morocco is conducting mass killings of stray dogs as part of its effort to secure hosting rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Campaigners estimate that if Morocco’s bid is successful, up to three million dogs could be killed in the run-up to the tournament.
In 2019, King Mohammed VI issued a royal decree to end Morocco’s long-standing practice of slaughtering homeless animals. However, according to the International Animal Coalition (IAC), the killings have continued unabated, with authorities often ignoring incidents. The IAC alleges that dogs are being poisoned with strychnine, either through bait or injections.
Recently released footage by the IAC reveals distressing scenes of dogs being violently captured using metal clamps, piled onto trucks, and transported to facilities where they are killed using inhumane methods such as beatings. Gunmen reportedly patrol the streets, shooting dogs and leaving many to suffer slow, agonizing deaths before being buried in mass graves.
In cities like Marrakech and Agadir, campaigners estimate that between 60 and 70 dogs are killed every other day.
“For years, the Moroccan government has shown no remorse for these actions, hoping to keep its ‘ugly secret’ hidden from international scrutiny,” said Les Ward, Chair of the IAC, in an interview with The Mirror. “Street dogs, and even owned dogs, which are part of Morocco’s fabric, are treated like garbage, disposed of by any means. Children who witness these killings are traumatized, and protests by Moroccan citizens are often met with harassment and intimidation.”
FIFA is set to vote on Morocco’s proposal to co-host the 2030 World Cup on December 11. However, the IAC is urging FIFA to reconsider Morocco’s bid unless it includes measures to prohibit the inhumane treatment of stray dogs. Without such safeguards, the coalition warns, the killings could intensify if the bid is approved.
“FIFA has been presented with evidence of these atrocities yet has refused to act,” Ward said. “The killings are concentrated near proposed tournament venues and tend to escalate before FIFA site visits. This is unacceptable and will outrage many football fans. FIFA must intervene to stop these cruel practices. Until it does, Morocco should be suspended as a potential co-host.”
Species Unite has reached out to FIFA, the Moroccan Football Federation, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United States for comment.
