Blood splattered across the streets, spent shell casings were scattered in the grass, and armed men were piling into vehicles.
That is the horrifying scene unfolding in the Moroccan city of Nador, where officials are accused of carrying out mass killings of stray dogs ahead of the 2030 World Cup. An estimated three million stray dogs live on Morocco’s streets.
The International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC) shared several shocking images with the Daily Mail, claiming preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup are being stained by scenes of ‘unbearable violence.’
‘Shocking eyewitness testimony describes how local authorities descended on a residential neighborhood at around 6.30am this week, opening fire on defenceless animals in what has been branded a “display of pure savagery,”‘ an IAWPC spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
The female witness, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, claimed she watched the horror unfold from her window. She added that there were two shootings reported this week, one on Tuesday and another on Thursday.
‘I am writing with a heavy heart and still in shock,’ they said in a statement to IAWPC.
‘This was not a culling operation, but a display of pure savagery. Dogs were shot in cold blood beneath our windows, leaving behind scenes of unbearable violence and streets stained with blood.’
A FIFA spokesperson previously told the Daily Mail that during its bid for the 2030 World Cup, Morocco emphasized its commitment to animal welfare, citing government efforts to expand clinics and support programs for stray dogs.
Morocco has been accused of killing stray dogs in its streets in a ‘clean up’ effort ahead of the 2030 World Cup
That is the horrifying scene unfolding the Moroccan city of Nador as officials massacre ‘millions’ of stray dogs to make way for the crowds attending the 2030 World Cup. The witnessed is stated as watching dogs shot outside her apartment, outside the lobby area
The International Animal Coalition (IAWPC) shared several shocking images with the Daily Mail, showing armed men patrolling the streets
‘With the bidding process now completed, FIFA is following up with its local counterparts with the aim of ensuring commitments are upheld,’ the FIFA spokesperson continued.
The Daily Mail has contacted FIFA regarding the latest claims.
FIFA said it is working with IAWPC, which convened a global panel of senior legal and animal welfare experts to review Morocco’s draft regulations. Their recommendations have since been submitted to Moroccan authorities.
Morocco’s Embassy in London has denied the claims, insisting there is no cull of stray dogs and citing what it described as the country’s commitment to humane and sustainable animal management.
A spokesman said last year that Morocco launched a Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release program in 2019 and is investing in clinics, veterinary services and municipal hygiene systems, adding: ‘It is entirely untrue that Morocco is planning to cull stray dogs ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.’
However, IAWPC, which represents more than 80 organizations worldwide, said the incident in Nador appears to be the latest in what it described as a growing pattern of brutal crackdowns that contradict Morocco’s public commitments to animal welfare.
Campaigners pointed to promises made during the World Cup bidding process that humane methods such as trap, neuter, vaccinate and release programs would be prioritized.
They said those assurances are now being called into question, adding that footage and eyewitness accounts, they claim, tell a very different story.
That is the horrifying scene unfolding the Moroccan city of Nador as officials massacre ‘millions’ of stray dogs to make way for the crowds attending the 2030 World Cup. A witness of the shootings shared the shocking images
The images shared with Daily Mail included a spent gunshot lying in the dirt
IAWPC told the Daily Mail that its witness reported seeing what they described as an ‘appalling aspect of the tragedy,’ a female dog being shot in the street while young pups cowered nearby.
‘How is it possible, in 2026, to act with such cruelty and total disregard for animal life and suffering?’ the witness said.
‘These acts are barbaric relics of a bygone era that cannot be ignored.’
Les Ward, chairman of the IAWPC, condemned what he described as the killings in the strongest possible terms.
‘This is not population control, it is an outright massacre,’ he said. ‘What we are seeing in Nador is utterly indefensible and flies in the face of everything Morocco has promised and constantly claims; their words are hollow and make-believe.’
‘You cannot host a global sporting event that celebrates unity and humanity while allowing this kind of outright callous violence and brutality to take place. The world is watching and a civilized world will never accept it.’
The Coalition’s high-profile campaign has already gained backing from celebrities, politicians and animal welfare groups worldwide, increasing pressure on football’s governing body, FIFA, to intervene.
Witnesses have captured men loading dogs into trucks to take them to undisclosed locations, which are claimed to be killing hubs
Animal welfare organizations have released images and testimony alleging Moroccan authorities are using harsh methods, including clamping dogs by the neck, loading them into trucks and poisoning or shooting them before disposing of their bodies in mass graves
Officials said the effort is aimed at making cities and tourist hotspots appear cleaner, safer, and more appealing to international visitors, fans, and media, in an attempt to avoid negative perceptions of stray animals during major global events
‘FIFA’s own human rights and sustainability commitments are being undermined if host nations are permitted to carry out what we believe to be mass killings of animals, traumatize children and assault those who try to intervene to stop the violence in the run-up to tournaments,’ an IAWPC spokesperson said.
‘The latest incident has also reignited urgent calls for independent investigations into how street dogs are being managed across Morocco and whether assurances made to FIFA on behalf of world football are being breached.’
Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has also thrown his support behind the IAWPC campaign, writing 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.’
