“No World Cup, Health Comes First”- Moroccan Gen Z Protesters

A group of young protesters in Morocco, known as Gen Z 212, has championed the movement on gaming and streaming platforms, including Discord and TikTok, to challenge the government’s misplaced priorities. The protest, which began on September 27, 2025, and is still ongoing, aims to draw the government’s attention to critical issues affecting citizens, rather than investing solely in sporting facilities and infrastructure.

Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup and is currently constructing what will be the world’s largest football stadium, with a capacity of 115,000. The government has reportedly invested $5 billion (£3.7 billion) in other infrastructure projects ahead of 2030.

The government has responded to the protesters, seeking to resolve the unrest through dialogue. However, the Gen Z 212 is a decentralised, leaderless movement. All they want is to advocate for free and quality education for all, accessible public healthcare for everyone, decent and affordable housing, better public transport, and so on.

The healthcare system suffers from an inadequate workforce. In 2023, it was estimated that there were 7.8 doctors per 10,000 Moroccans, less than the 23 per 10,000 recommended by the World Health Organisation. Despite this abnormality, the people are still subjected to pain and arrest for choosing to lament the government’s failure.

The placards read their intent: “No World Cup, health comes first.” This pattern is gradually becoming a recurring theme in the global landscape as young citizens are now seizing their voices to decry injustice and corruption and hold their governments accountable.

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Joshua Chuwang

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