Spain’s far left and far right unite on rare common ground to oppose Morocco co-hosting the 2030 World Cup after Ceuta crisis

The far-left Sumar party, a junior member of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government, and the far-right Vox party have submitted separate non-binding motions questioning Morocco’s role as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, Politico reported.

The proposals followed the arrival of about 72,000 migrants in Ceuta, a Spanish territory on Africa’s northern coast, during a two-day surge in late July.

Although the motions cannot force the Spanish government to alter the hosting agreement, they show how the Ceuta crisis has brought together parties that rarely agree.

Against that backdrop, Sumar argued that Morocco should not “obtain the prestige, economic benefits, and international legitimacy of hosting a World Cup” while questions remained over Rabat’s handling of the migration crisis.

Less than a day later, Vox filed a similar motion, describing Morocco as a country that “is not a loyal partner, neither for organizing a sporting event of this magnitude nor for any neighborly matter.”

“The very serious events that took place in Ceuta on July 30 and 31 have completely shattered the foundations of trust and cooperation on which a shared candidacy necessarily rests,” Vox said.

The party added that continuing with the joint hosting arrangement would amount to “a deliberate humiliation that Spain must vehemently oppose.”

The pressure has also spread beyond the two parties. Spain’s far-left Podemos party and Portugal’s environmentalist Livre party have called for Spain and Portugal to host the tournament without Morocco.

Despite growing pressure at home, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has avoided directly blaming Rabat for the crossings.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the surge as “highly unusual” but said Morocco “offered its cooperation” in containing the crisis and facilitating the return of most migrants within 48 hours.

Albares also called for “solidarity from all the member states of the European Union”, arguing that Ceuta and Melilla form part of the bloc’s external border.

The crisis has nevertheless placed Madrid in a difficult position as European officials demand stronger border controls and consider visa and trade measures to secure greater cooperation from Morocco.

Even so, official relations between the two countries remain intact.

During the crisis, Spain’s King Felipe VI congratulated King Mohammed VI on the 27th anniversary of his accession to the throne and expressed confidence in stronger ties of “brotherhood, friendship and cooperation” between their countries.

Morocco, for its part, has denied deliberately relaxing border controls. A senior Moroccan official instead blamed the surge on social media misinformation and a Spanish court ruling that restricted the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea.

The dispute remains sensitive because Spain considers Ceuta and Melilla integral parts of its territory, while Morocco has long disputed Spanish sovereignty over the two North African enclaves.

The political fallout now threatens to cast a shadow over one of Morocco’s biggest international projects.

FIFA selected Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup, making Morocco only the second African country chosen to stage tournament matches after South Africa hosted the event in 2010.

For Rabat, the competition forms a major part of its infrastructure and tourism strategy.

Morocco is building new transport links and stadiums, including the planned Grand Stade Hassan II near Casablanca, which is expected to become one of the world’s largest football venues.

Any attempt to remove Morocco would therefore threaten one of Africa’s most ambitious sporting and infrastructure projects. However, FIFA has not indicated that the approved hosting structure is under review.