Countries tend to do all that they can to prepare for a spectacle such as a World Cup. In 2030, the FIFA World Cup is set to take place in Morocco; Spain and Portugal. Unfortunately and disgustly, one of the co-host nations, Morocco, has set out to rid the streets of stray dogs. They do this by killing them.
Animal welfare groups say the killings are part of a campaign to, "clean up" Morocco’s streets ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the nation is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal, while Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will all host stage an opening match each.
"Individuals armed with rifles go out into the streets, often at night, and shoot the dogs," Les Ward, head of the International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC), said. "Others are rounded up and taken to municipal dispensaries where they are poisoned. They simply disappear."
"Stray dogs pose a serious public health risk, particularly as carriers of rabies," Mohammed Roudani, head of the Public Health and Green Spaces Division at Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, said. "Around 100 000 people are bitten every year, 40% of them children under 15."
In 2019, Morocco’s government introduced the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) program, a humane strategy to control stray dog populations. "We are working with local authorities to implement this in compliance with animal welfare standards," Roudani said.
There’s a major obstacle: municipalities, not the national government, are responsible for managing stray animals. "There’s a legal vacuum," Roudani explained. "Some cities still rely on traditional methods and there’s currently no law against killing stray dogs."
In some cities, stray dogs are poisoned with strychnine, a pesticide banned in many countries for causing inhumane suffering. "We must deal with the issue in a different way," Roudani said. “No more slaughter. No more strychnine. We need an ethical solution."
In February this year, a coalition of 10 animal rights groups urged FIFA to address Morocco’s "increased capture and culling" of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
In a letter addressed to FIFA’s Secretary General, conservationist, Jane Goodall, said she was, "absolutely appalled" to see Morocco’s government, "engaging in large-scale killings of street dogs as part of an apparent effort to make FIFA World Cup venues more 'presentable' to foreign visitors."
FIFA didn't respond to the letter but said in a statement that Morocco’s World Cup bid, "outlined its commitment to the protection of animal rights," including the expansion of "clinics and support programs for stray dogs."
"FIFA is following up with its local counterparts with the aim to ensure commitments are upheld," the statement said. As international scrutiny has grown, the dog catchers appear to have become more discreet, particularly in tourist hubs like Marrakech.
FIFA has been aware of Morocco’s dog culling since at least 2023. That March, the European Link Coalition (ELC), a UK-based NGO, met with senior FIFA officials to present evidence of a rise in culling ahead of the 2030 World Cup. The materials included dozens of photos, videos and witness testimonies – some directly referencing Casa Baia.
In April 2024, FIFA Human Rights Advisor, Marta Piazza, told ELC that the organisation, "truly valued" their input and was engaging with Morocco’s government to, "ensure alignment with FIFA’s bidding requirements" – the checklist of services and standards expected of a prospective host nation.
A "suggested way forward" was promised in the coming weeks. According to the ELC, FIFA then fell silent. The organisation says it hasn’t heard from Piazza or her colleagues since. In response, FIFA said it is, "in contact with animal welfare organizations on this important matter."
Morocco’s government is taking steps to regulate dog culling practices. Last month, Roudani and his colleagues submitted a draft law mandating municipalities to stop killing stray animals and implement TNVR programs.
FIFA said it had contacted the Moroccan Football Federation and, "received confirmation that a number of measures have been implemented over the last 5 years," with new legislation in the works aimed at balancing public health and animal welfare.
The issue is drawing global attention ahead of the 2030 World Cup, with celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Peter Egan condemning the killings on X, calling them a “slaughter.”
"Football fans around the world love dogs," Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch. "Animal mistreatment could become a major PR issue if FIFA doesn’t take concrete action."
"It’s not just a question of animal mistreatment," added Nick McGeehan, co-director of rights group, FairSquare. "Having a clear knowledge of issues and choosing to ignore them – that’s a breach of basic human decency."
"Dogs are being gunned down, set on fire, and killed in other horrific ways simply for the sake of a soccer tournament," says PETA Executive President, Tracy Reiman. "PETA is urging Morocco to stop the slaughter and uphold the country’s commitment to treat animals humanely."
PETA points out that while Morocco’s King Mohammed VI gave a royal order to end the country’s decades-long massacre of homeless dogs and cats in 2019—with authorities there signing an agreement to stop the killing—the pledge didn’t hold. Homeless animals are being snatched off the streets, shot, poisoned, burned alive and left to die in cages without food or water; among other atrocities.
PETA is also calling on FIFA, football’s world governing body, to urgently step in and stop the mass slaughter taking place on its behalf and has asked soccer icon and proud dog guardian, Cristiano Ronaldo, to step up for canines by donating a small portion of his earnings to help fund spay and neuter clinics in Morocco.
They have used the Club World Cup to stage a protest last Wednesday, sending two pitch invaders to Manchester City's game against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia to call out the killing of homeless animals in Morocco.
The two pitch invaders brought signage that read, "Morocco – Stop Shooting Dogs and Cats!" They were quickly tackled by security and taken out of Lincoln Financial Field. PETA has been critical in reards to the Moroccan government's treatment of stray animals.
"Dogs are being gunned down, set on fire, and killed in other horrific ways simply for the sake of a soccer tournament," PETA's executive president Tracy Reiman said in a statement. "PETA is urging Morocco to stop the slaughter and uphold the country's commitment to treat animals humanely."
Though Morocco's King Mohammed VI issued a royal order in 2019 to end the country's policy of killing homeless animals, PETA claim authorities have not followed through with that pledge. The organization is now using the Club World Cup to shed light on the issue, notably with Morocco set to be one of the host nations for the 2030 World Cup. PETA is also calling upon FIFA to advocate for the end of this practice and for Cristiano Ronaldo to donate money to spay and neuter clinics in Morocco.
I absolutely love dogs. I'm definately a dog person. Hence, I had high doubts about writing on this topic. I find it hard to read and write about the events described above. My heart shatters to a million pieces when I hear of these events occuring.
Most of you, the readers, who follow/watch football will know that FIFA will do nothing about this matter. They only care about the money. It'll only become a problem if they don't see green. I could be wrong but most sporting bodies don't care about social issues. They just care about what's going on the field of their respective sport.