...
By Jordan King
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The last few weeks have seen multiple people speaking out on social media, amid reports that Morocco is carrying out a mass cull of stray dogs in preparation to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Newsweek has broken down what we know.
Why It Matters
The allegations raise concerns about animal welfare issues, and the responsibilities of sports bodies when host nations face human rights and animal care scrutiny.
Read More on News
The issue could affect Morocco’s image as a co-host and test FIFA’s stated commitments on ethical standards for tournament organizers.
What To Know
Animal welfare group International Animal Welfare and Protection Coalition (IAWPC) last January accused the country of increasing the killing of dogs after it was announced in October 2023 that Morocco would co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030 with Spain and Portugal.
IAWPC said in its report that the North African nation had a plan to kill up to three million dogs before the World Cup tournament starts.
Morocco's Embassy in London said last year that it “categorically” denies any culling campaign, saying that it is committed to “humane and sustainable animal management.”
FIFA previously said in its evaluation report that Morocco’s bid has “outlined its commitment to the protection of animal rights and has highlighted that since August 2024 the culling of animals is prohibited in the country, and governmental resources are being allocated to expand clinics and support programmes for stray dogs.”
The IAWPC slammed this as “nonsense,” adding: “The Coalition has concrete proof that the daily slaughter of dogs continues relentlessly and without mercy in the streets of would be host cities for the tournament, as well as in other areas of Morocco.”
Morocco launched a national Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) strategy in 2019, which is supposed to introduce a humane stray dog population manager, but the country’s Ministry of Interior has acknowledged that not all municipalities use the same strategies.
The ministry’s head of the Public Health and Green Spaces Division Mohammed Roudani previously told CNN: “There’s a legal vacuum. Some cities still rely on traditional methods, and there’s currently no law against killing stray dogs.”
FIFA told Telegraph Sport last year that it had contacted the Moroccan Football Federation to “alert them alert them to the issue.”
“We have received confirmation that a number of measures have been implemented over the last five years and a new law is being drafted to try and address the current situation with a balanced approach that meets the needs of public health and safety and animal welfare,” it said.
...
The topic triggered outrage again this year, after The Athletic published a report about an alleged kill center on the edge of Marrakech and said it had seen documentation that showed another city’s local authority ordered 1,000 rounds of ammunition in September 2025 for its stray dog population.
American actor Mark Ruffalo was one of many who spoke out about the piece on X recently, calling it a “moral failure.”
A 2025 draft law would criminalize killing and cruelty towards strays in Morocco but it would also fine people for feeding or treating strays in public without authorization, according to Middle East Eye.
Newsweek has contacted FIFA and the Moroccan embassy in Washington D.C., via email, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via online contact form, for comment.
What People Are Saying
FIFA previously told Telegraph Sport: “Fifa is in contact with the animal welfare organisation IAWPC on this important matter. In this context, an expert panel with senior legal and animal welfare experts from across the globe was formed by IAWPC to provide input on the draft regulations and the result of its work has now been submitted to the Moroccan authorities.”
American actor Mark Ruffalo said in a post on X: “Killing millions of dogs to prepare for a global sporting event is not progress, it’s a moral failure. The World Cup should unite the world, not be built on suffering that happens behind closed doors. Humane solutions exist, and choosing compassion over violence is a responsibility we all share.”
Mohammed Roudani previously told CNN: “Stray dogs pose a serious public health risk, particularly as carriers of rabies...“We must deal with the issue in a different way. No more slaughter. No more strychnine. We need an ethical solution.”
What Happens Next
Morocco’s draft legislation will move through parliamentary review, though timelines remain unclear.
Advocacy groups will likely maintain pressure on FIFA and Morocco, and it is yet to be seen how they will respond.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines