LMorocco plans significant investments to modernize and build stadiums and sports facilities. According to estimates, an overall budget of between 15 and 20 billion dirhams will be mobilized. This amount covers the rehabilitation of emblematic stadiums such as the large stadium in Marrakech and the Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca (the latter will be used for the meetings of the African Cup of Nations and for the training of the teams involved in the 2030 World Cup). Added to this is the construction of modern infrastructure, such as the large Benslimane stadium with a capacity of 115,000 seats.
FIFA requires each host country to have at least 14 stadiums that meet international standards. For the 2030 edition, the organizing trio is offering 20 sites, 11 for Spain, 6 for Morocco and 3 for Portugal. Thus, to meet the requirements of this body, Morocco plans to build and redevelop multipurpose infrastructures capable of hosting, in addition to sporting competitions, cultural and community events. Properly exploited, these facilities could revolutionize the promotion of sport among young people while bringing a certain dynamism to the host cities. This issue is crucial, as explained by Aziz Daouda, technical and development director at the Confederation of African Athletics.
The role of policies in promoting sport among young people
Aziz Daouda shares his strategic vision: “Institutions and youth support structures can only play a role in these infrastructures if they are first allowed to do so. There is therefore a need for innovation and political will which would be expressed in a strategy with well-defined content and outlines. If this were the orientation, those who will have to manage the new infrastructures would be obliged to comply with the political will and the implementation of the strategy. The question will then arise, for example, of arrangements for sports other than Football in these infrastructures. The question of free access will also arise, knowing that in certain activities, practitioners are not able to pay for the services. Still, the key words should be optimization and efficiency and not profitability.
“This is an essential question that the organizers of the World Cup and the Olympic Games are asking themselves. These two institutions (FIFA and IOC) have become so demanding that the infrastructures often become very sophisticated and highly budget-intensive. They do not find optimized uses once the event has been consumed. This is where the Moroccan genius should show innovation and creativity. Sports performance is a cultural expression. Stadiums should be integrated into a global cultural offering. It couldn’t be otherwise. Football alone cannot support them,” he explains. And to continue: “Successful experiences show that we must think and act in this way. It will also be necessary to apply every time the opportunity arises, precisely to allow as frequent use as possible of the new infrastructures. This is part of the strategy aimed at strengthening the future influence of the country.
Infrastructure serving the local population and the economy
The facilities will not be reserved only for the sporting elite. The objective is to make them spaces accessible to young people, particularly in cities like Tangier, Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, Casablanca and Agadir. Several initiatives would be considered, including the construction of sports facilities including additional fields, multi-purpose rooms and leisure areas. These projects aim to reach a large number of young people in the five years following the World Cup, through skills development and value creation programs. These assets will be accompanied by public-private partnerships to promote access to infrastructure and training. The goal is to learn from our past mistakes. In this wake, a study by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) on sports policy in Morocco demonstrated that the ‘National Sports Strategy for 2020’ did not achieve its objectives due to a lack of effective implementation, insufficient resources and legal issues. In the process, the CESE recommends transforming this strategy into public policy, strengthening school and university sport, harmonizing the legal framework, developing a monitoring/evaluation system and continuing the development of sports infrastructures, taking into account the needs and specificities of each region.
Centenary World
The 2030 World Cup or the “Centennial World Cup” will celebrate “a century gone by” since the first edition organized in Uruguay in 1930. This tricontinental and unprecedented formula will have a particularly positive impact on Morocco. The repercussions on a cultural and socio-economic level will not be limited to the period of the competition, but will be felt well after. Thus, the new infrastructures will have a double effect: boosting local sport, while guaranteeing equitable access to sports practice for all young people.
However, Aziz Daouda insists on the importance of providing additional infrastructure adapted to local use. “High competition infrastructures are often unsuitable for mass practice, especially if they are not equipped with additional infrastructures capable of being used by associations, clubs and other youth support structures. On the other hand, the premises, often numerous under the stands, can be the scene of numerous cultural and training activities in numerous fields. We can, for example, imagine a stadium housing an institute for training executives in sport at different levels,” he insists. On the technological side, although the IT infrastructures of Moroccan stadiums are considered good by FIFA, some require significant upgrades. On this subject, Morocco aims to cover 70% of the population with 5G by 2030.
An economic and social engine for host cities
The direct and indirect economic fallout from these events is estimated at several billion dirhams. During CAN 2025, host cities could generate up to 1.5 billion dirhams in revenue linked to tourism, catering and other services. For the 2030 World Cup, co-organized with Spain and Portugal, these benefits could reach between 8 and 10 billion dirhams, according to the Government Labor Observatory. Access to these modern infrastructures aims to democratize the practice of sport in Morocco, with the ambition of significantly increasing the participation of young people in the years to come. Complementary initiatives, such as the creation of sports academies and executive training, will strengthen this dynamic, thus helping to make sport a real lever for development for young people.
Moncef Lyazghi, academic and researcher in public and sports policy, highlights the tangible progress made by Morocco in the implementation of its ambitious projects. “In the past, when we saw an official inaugurating a project, we were almost sure that it would not see the light of day. This is no longer the case today. Confidence is starting to build, especially among young people. When a project like that of the Atlantic port of Dakhla is announced, we see the evolution of the work over the years. Likewise, the progress of the work on the Benslimane stadium is in line with forecasts. With these achievements, the future outlook is bright and hosting the World Cup is a source of national pride. These findings can only be consolidated among young Moroccans. This also has a beneficial effect on the entire population. We must capitalize on these events,” he emphasizes.
It’s a legacy that extends well beyond sport. Morocco sees in hosting the CAN and the World Cup much more than just the construction of stadiums; it is an investment in the future of its youth and its economy. With exemplary management, these projects could make the Kingdom a model in Africa, combining sporting success and the aspirations of future generations.
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