Spain’s United Left calls for Morocco to be excluded from 2030 World Cup hosting plans

A Spanish politician has launched a formal parliamentary initiative aimed at removing Morocco from the 2030 FIFA World Cup hosting agreement with Spain and Portugal.

Enrique Santiago, spokesperson for the United Left (IU) in the Spanish parliament, said the tournament did not have sufficient guarantees to be staged in Morocco and called for all activities and preparations connected with the event in the country to be suspended.

Santiago also criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino, describing him as a “servant of Trump”, and questioned whether Morocco should continue to be involved in hosting the competition.

Speaking to Spanish broadcaster TVE, Santiago said the World Cup should be regarded as a “space for friendship” and a meeting point for different peoples.

He argued that, following events in the city of Ceuta, Spain could not continue with the same form of co-operation with Morocco. He also made serious accusations against Morocco, although no further details of those allegations were provided in the report.

The United Left politician subsequently called for Spain’s preparations for the 2030 World Cup, jointly hosted with Morocco and Portugal, to be frozen “until respect for human rights and the preservation of Spanish sovereignty are guaranteed”.

Santiago said his parliamentary group would submit a non-binding motion to open a debate on the issue in Spain’s parliament. He added that the group would seek to secure approval through agreement and full consensus among members of the chamber.

The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be organised by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the tournament’s hosting arrangements involving the three countries. Santiago’s intervention represents a political challenge to Morocco’s role in that agreement, rather than a decision by the organisers or FIFA to alter the hosting plans.

The United Left’s proposed motion would not itself force a change to the tournament’s organisation because it would be non-binding. Its stated purpose is to bring the issue before parliament and seek a united position among lawmakers.

Santiago’s comments place the focus on the relationship between Spain and Morocco, human rights concerns and what he described as the protection of Spanish sovereignty. They also call into question whether the principles of international friendship and co-operation associated with the World Cup can be maintained while Morocco remains part of the 2030 hosting plan.

No change to the announced arrangement involving Spain, Portugal and Morocco was reported in the source article.