The recent parliamentary election in Morocco has underscored growing disillusionment among the country’s youth, highlighting deep socio-economic challenges amid preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. With one-third of the population aged between 15 and 30, and unemployment rates exceeding one-third within that group, many young Moroccans continue to face limited opportunities, prompting some to take perilous journeys across the Mediterranean. A tragic example occurred recently when more than 100 migrants died attempting to swim from Moroccan waters to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The parliamentary election, held last week, revealed stark disengagement from formal politics, particularly among younger voters. Overall turnout among registered voters was just 38%, marking the lowest participation in two decades. Among those under 35, voter registration itself was notably low, at about 19%, resulting in less than one-quarter of eligible voters casting ballots. The outcome saw the incumbent centre-right coalition, led by the Authenticity and Modernity party, maintain power in a political system described as a hybrid democracy, where King Mohammed VI remains the dominant authority.

Observers note that the low youth participation does not reflect apathy but rather a profound dissatisfaction with political and economic conditions. Last year, a youth-led Gen Z protest movement organized the largest demonstrations since the Arab Spring of 2011, rallying around demands for increased investment in public services such as healthcare and education. Protesters also criticized the government’s heavy expenditures on World Cup preparations. Many expressed opposition to the allocation of significant state funds, chanting slogans prioritizing healthcare over the sports event. In response, authorities arrested thousands of demonstrators amid allegations of harsh treatment and abuse, with hundreds reportedly still in detention.

Despite frequent official calls to engage young citizens in politics, significant policy changes appear unlikely under the current leadership. Preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, are expected to dominate the government’s agenda. The International Monetary Fund estimates that spending on the tournament could reach nearly 12% of Morocco’s 2024 GDP, a sum critics argue exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities. The involvement of high-profile figures such as Fouzi Lekjaa, head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and a recent member of the Authenticity and Modernity party, who is considered a frontrunner for the prime minister post, further signals continuity in the current approach.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation near Ceuta remains precarious. Thousands of migrants continue to live under difficult conditions in temporary camps set up at the port, underscoring ongoing migration pressures. As Morocco prepares to host some of the world’s largest football matches, including, potentially, the final at the Grand Stade Hassan II with a planned 115,000-seat capacity, the broader aspirations of many young Moroccans diverge sharply. Their frustrations center less on international sporting prestige and more on urgent needs for improved economic opportunities and social services, reflecting deep-rooted challenges that persist beneath the national spotlight.