Canadian praise for Moroccan sports security

In parallel with the preparations of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup, the Canadian journalist and researcher specializing in terrorism and extremism, Daniel Robson, praised the Moroccan security expertise in securing global sporting events and helping other countries do so, pointing in this regard to Morocco’s assistance to France in securing the 2024 Paris Olympics, and its assistance to Qatar in organizing the 2022 World Cup, in addition to Washington’s bet on the Moroccan security experience in securing the football event that She will be embraced by the company of her neighbors.

Robson emphasized in a lengthy article on the “Western Standard” platform that “Canada’s preparations in this regard, in light of the chaos of the borders and the security gaps in the stadiums, reveal a country that is still trying to catch up in the face of the largest global security challenge,” stressing that “international examples help clarify what serious preparations look like.”

In this regard, he referred to a statement by former Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, in which he publicly affirmed: “If it were not for the Moroccan intelligence services, France would have been more affected by terrorism,” prior to the Olympic Games hosted by the French capital, stressing that the same logic now appears in the American case. The Washington Embassy in Rabat congratulated Morocco on its selection to participate in the “White House World Cup Task Force” to enhance security cooperation for the upcoming tournament.

The same journalist explained, “These signals show that on the American side as well, the security of major events is dealt with through early operational exchange and through partnerships that extend beyond the familiar traditional circles,” adding that “Qatar is offering a similar lesson from the Arab world; ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar and Morocco signed a joint declaration regarding the exchange of information related to the tournament.”

He stated, "A large part of the discussion about the 2026 World Cup in Canada focused on the economic costs and benefits. These issues are important, but they are not the most important question once the tournament begins. The central issue is security, that is, the question of whether Canada is able to transform years of planning into a coordinated, flexible and credible system under pressure."

He continued, "Canada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver, and preparations at the federal level have gone beyond the stage of symbolic preparations, as the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Department has developed specific guidelines for fans, workers, volunteers, and individuals invited by FIFA."