Morocco Gen Z Protests Demand Healthcare Education Prioritization Amid 2030 World Cup Stadium Construction

In Morocco, a youth-led protest movement called Gen Z 212 is demanding major reforms in public health, education, and social services, opposing the government's heavy spending on football infrastructure for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The movement, which organizes primarily on Discord and social media, has rapidly grown, fueled by tragic incidents such as the deaths of pregnant women in a public hospital and violent clashes with police resulting in several protester deaths. Protesters emphasize the need for affordable housing, better public transport, improved wages and pensions, subsidized prices for basic goods, and a shift in national spending priorities away from stadiums toward hospitals and schools. Demonstrators have expressed their frustrations through peaceful protests, chanting slogans like "No World Cup, health comes first" and calling for free, quality education and the adoption of English as a second language. The government, while open to dialogue, faces a leaderless movement determined to continue pushing for concrete change. These protests highlight a growing political awareness among Moroccan youth and a demand for social justice and equitable development.