Sumar, a minor leftist party that is part of the coalition government with the dominant Socialist Party, introduced a motion in Parliament on Wednesday, asking Spain’s sports authorities to reassess their plans to co-host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 with Morocco and Portugal.
Though Sumar holds only 26 seats in the 350-member Parliament, its influence is notable due to its ministerial positions within the cabinet of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has faced backlash from other European Union countries regarding the Ceuta incident.
The motion itself is non-binding. Sumar hopes to gather additional support in Parliament. However, aside from potential backing from other small leftist parties, increased support seems unlikely at this juncture.
Sánchez has publicly supported the Moroccan authorities, noting their swift actions in managing the return of nearly all 72,000 individuals who entered Ceuta last week. Reports from Spain’s Interior Ministry indicate that around 2,000 people, including roughly 1,000 minors, remain in Ceuta.
Nonetheless, voices of opposition and even Spain’s defense minister are calling for Morocco to provide further detail on its response to the crisis, which was exacerbated by social media posts inciting individuals to cross the border. Tragically, over 80 people lost their lives while attempting a mass crossing over a breakwater and border fence into Ceuta on Thursday and Friday.
Nahuel González of Sumar, one of the lawmakers behind the motion, accused Morocco of leveraging migration flows for political purposes.
“The Moroccan state, the Moroccan monarchy, does not uphold human rights, instead using migrants as political leverage,” González remarked to Spanish broadcaster TVE. When pressed for clarification, González did not specify whether Sumar advocates for Morocco to be excluded from hosting the World Cup or for Spain to pull out of the event entirely.
“We urge Spain’s sports institutions to reconsider their participation in this World Cup shared with Morocco, as we believe it is crucial to uphold human rights,” González stated.
A small party in Portugal’s parliament, Livre, echoed these sentiments. They sent a letter to Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, requesting a review of the World Cup plans, labeling the situation “unsustainable” following the Ceuta crisis.
Spain, Morocco, and Portugal are set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay expected to host one match each. This South American inclusion will commemorate the centenary of Uruguay hosting the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
First Published: Aug 5, 2026 7:57 PM IST
