Morocco Denies Rumors of Mass Dog Culling Ahead of 2030 World Cup

Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, has vehemently disputed rumors that it intends to euthanize three million stray dogs.

In order to make streets more "presentable" for visiting fans, the British daily Daily Mail said that a massive eradication effort had started in public spaces. In a letter to FIFA, animal rights activist Jane Goodall denounced the assertion as a "act of barbarity" and called for immediate action, sparking uproar throughout the world.

Mohammed Roudani, the General Directorate of Local Authorities' Head of the Hygiene and Green Spaces Division, denied the accusations, however.

"There is no culling campaign," Roudani told the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), calling the reports "completely unfounded."

Moroccan officials emphasized their commitment to ethical and sustainable solutions, such as the TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release) program, which has been in place since 2019 through a partnership with the Ministry of the Interior, the National Order of Veterinarians, ONSSA, and the Ministry of Health.

Authorities reaffirmed Morocco’s dedication to humane animal control and dismissed the rumors as misinformation intended to tarnish the country’s reputation ahead of the prestigious tournament.