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Animal rights organizations such as PETA, the International Animal Welfare and Protection Alliance (IAWPC), the Eurogroup for Animals, and others have accused the Moroccan government of mass killing.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. FIFA announced the event in October 2023 and received final approval in December 2024. Preparations for the tournament are in full swing, but shocking and brutal news has emerged from Morocco.
During the World Cup, plans are underway to kill an estimated 3 million stray dogs in the country to make the city look “clean” and “safe for tourists”. Animal rights organizations such as PETA, the International Animal Welfare and Protection Alliance (IAWPC), the Eurogroup for Animals, and others have accused the Moroccan government of mass killing.
Cruelty crosses boundaries
The country is accused of killing dogs very cruelly. These methods are extremely brutal, including adding or injecting poison (strychnine) into food, shooting them with guns, capturing them with neck clamps, loading them into trucks, then taking them to fake dispensaries and burning them alive or throwing them in mass graves. Many wounded dogs continue to suffer and howl, but death comes slowly. Reports say that the children are traumatized by this. The AWPC claims that 3 million dogs are at risk.
A country infested with stray dogs
About 300,000 dogs were killed in Morocco each year, but the World Cup has increased that number. Clean-up campaigns are underway in cities such as Marrakesh, Fez and Efrain. The president of Efrain’s tourism council told CNN that dogs are being taken off the streets for the World Cup. Stray dog problems are a chronic problem in Morocco, with 100,000 dogs being euthanized each year. However, animal officials say culling does not solve the problem in the long run. Instead, a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program should be adopted, where dogs are captured, neutered, vaccinated and then released. Morocco promised TNR by 2024, but reports suggest that cruel methods have been adopted instead.
Official denial
The Moroccan government and embassy have denied the allegations. The London embassy said the country is committed to humane animal management and prohibits slaughter. However, animal organizations have submitted a 91-page dossier to FIFA, including photographs, testimonies and evidence. PETA protested, stopping matches and displaying posters. Celebrities like Mark Ruffalo have also endorsed the campaign on social media. The incident is reminiscent of past events such as the Beijing Olympics 2008 and the Sochi Olympics, where stray animals were killed before major events. Animal lovers are demanding FIFA hold Morocco accountable or revoke hosting rights. FIFA says they respect human rights, but no drastic action has yet been taken.

