Around 200 migrants attempt swim to Ceuta during World Cup celebrations

Around 200 migrants attempted to swim from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as celebrations unfolded following Spain’s World Cup victory, according to Spanish media reports.

Spanish police sources, cited by local newspaper El Faro de Ceuta, said authorities had been warned in advance that a Spanish victory could trigger an increase in migration attempts along the border.

Morocco’s Royal Navy quickly intervened, deploying three vessels — including two small boats and a larger ship — to intercept and rescue migrants in Moroccan waters before they could reach Spanish territory.

Most of the attempts were concentrated around the Tarajal area, while approximately 30 people tried to enter Ceuta by sea through the Benzú sector from the nearby Moroccan locality of Beliones. Attempts to cross through the border fence remained limited.

Spain’s Guardia Civil placed its maritime and diving units on high alert during the operation. The Spanish government had already announced plans to reinforce personnel and resources in the area ahead of August, a period that typically sees an increase in migration attempts.

The operation by Moroccan authorities comes amid recent legal changes in Spain. Following a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court, Spanish security forces are no longer allowed to immediately return migrants who reach Ceuta by sea. Instead, authorities must follow formal legal procedures, increasing reliance on Moroccan patrols to prevent crossings before migrants enter Spanish waters.

Figures released by Spain’s Interior Ministry illustrate the growing pressure on the Ceuta border. Between Jan. 1 and July 15, 2026, a total of 2,826 migrants entered the enclave by land and through its breakwaters, marking a 149% increase compared with the 1,133 entries recorded during the same period in 2025.

In the first two weeks of July alone, 244 migrants successfully reached Ceuta, according to the ministry’s data.