The World Cup is meant to unite, but when the tournament is shared by three nations with a history of tension, the challenge is immense. For Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, the 2030 bid promises a month of football. But the security question hangs over all. British-style security - the kind that locked down London for the 2012 Olympics - requires trust. And trust, in this region, is in short supply.
The three nations have clashed over migration, territory, and trade. Morocco and Spain are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar, but also by the disputed enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Portugal and Spain share a rivalry as old as the Age of Discovery. Yet now they must share intelligence, coordinate police, and ensure that football fans can travel safely from Casablanca to Lisbon.
The British model is coveted because it works. It means spot checks, armed patrols, and a visible police presence. But it also means a central command that can override local decisions. For the hosts, this would require a surrender of sovereignty. The question is whether they are willing.
On the ground, the fear is real. In Madrid, police have already begun training with British advisors. In Rabat, the government has passed a new security law that critics say gives too much power to the interior ministry. In Lisbon, there are concerns about the cost of a security operation that could run into billions.
For ordinary people, the World Cup is a chance to show the world a different side. But the memory of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where migrant workers died in their thousands, still stings. The hosts must prove that they can protect not just VIPs but the fans who come on a budget.
The regional inequality is stark. Morocco is the poorest of the three, with a GDP per capita less than a tenth of Portugal's. Its security forces are less well equipped. But it is also the most vulnerable to terrorism, with a history of attacks in Marrakesh and Casablanca.
The British have offered advice. But advice is not the same as action. The hosts must build their own systems. And they must do it quickly. The clock is ticking.
In the end, the success of the security operation will depend on the relationships between the three nations. If they can put aside their differences for a month, the World Cup might actually bring peace. If not, it will be a reminder of what divides them.
