20 billion dirhams! This is the estimated cost encompassing the upgrade of six stadiums in the Kingdom to CAF and FIFA standards as well as the construction of the future Grand Casablanca stadium. The stadiums to be renovated are those of Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier. As for the new stadium, located in Benslimane, its capacity will be 115,000 seats.
The challenges of organizing the 2030 World Cup go far beyond, for Morocco, what will be played out on the pitch. Thirty-five years after its first attempt, followed by four other equally unsuccessful ones, the Kingdom was finally selected by the FIFA council to organize, jointly with Spain and Portugal, this global tournament which constitutes a unique opportunity for develop the country’s sports infrastructure.
This is the reason why Morocco finds itself at a decisive turning point in its sporting history. But before this competition, it will pass a full-scale test by hosting the African Cup of Nations (CAN), from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. A very close deadline and intensive preparations which represent an immediate challenge, but also a opportunity for the country to demonstrate its know-how in organizing large-scale sporting events.
This includes, in particular, the modernization and construction of new stadiums, the improvement of reception infrastructure, including hotels and transport, in addition to the strengthening of security systems. Today, we can say that the upgrading of football stadiums, in view of these prestigious competitions, is well and truly underway.
2030 World Cup IN MOROCCO: six stadiums selected
The bid file for the tripartite organization of the 2030 World Cup includes six stadiums, which have been selected for this global football event. These are the Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat, the Grand Hassan II stadium in Casablanca, the Fez Stadium, the Grand stadium in Tangier, the Grand stadium in Agadir and the Grand stadium in Marrakech.
The overall estimated cost (20 billion dirhams) includes the upgrade of the six aforementioned stadiums to both CAF and FIFA standards as well as the construction of the new Grand Casablanca stadium. The objective is to improve the quality of these sports infrastructures and to provide the country’s economic metropolis with a prestigious new stadium. The latter, which will be built in Benslimane, will have a capacity of 115,000 places. It is expected to be the first or second largest football stadium in the world.
For the Grand Stade de Tangier, the work mainly concerns the removal of the athletics track and the installation of the stadium roof as well as the development of two underground car parks and two training grounds. The renovation work, already underway, will add more than 15,000 seats to this stadium (with a current capacity of 65,000 numbered seats) which will be able to accommodate, at the end of the work, more than 90,000 spectators.
As for the Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, built in 1980, it was completely demolished to make way for a new sports complex with a fully covered capacity of 68,403 seats, spread over six levels. The work is progressing at a steady pace so that the stadium is ready for the two major football events.
For the stadiums of Fez, Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir, this involves the redevelopment of exterior and interior spaces, the repair of the stands, changing rooms and toilets as well as the upgrading of technical installations (lighting, electrical installations, control access, etc.). Inaugurated in October 2013, the Grand Stade d’Agadir already has major international events to its credit, such as the Club World Cup organized in 2013. With a capacity of 42,000 seats, its renovation work will undergo two stages: a first in anticipation of CAN 2025, and a second in view of the 2030 World Cup.
For the Fez stadium renovation project, it provides for the removal of the athletics track, with a view to building new stands, for a capacity of 10,000 additional seats. These changes will bring the total capacity to 46,000 places. Built in the 1990s, the Fez Sports Complex currently has a capacity of 35,600 places.
In addition, the Grand Stade de Marrakech will also be brought up to CAF standards for CAN 2025 and FIFA for the 2030 World Cup. With a capacity of 42,000 seats, it will also be able to host group matches or playoff matches of the World Cup. The renovation work will also be carried out in two phases, before and after CAN 2025. It will concern the locker rooms, the stands, the annex stadiums and the lighting.
World Cup: acceleration effect of the Morocco-Spain Tunnel
The dream of connecting Morocco and Spain, and therefore Africa and Europe under the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, will probably become reality with the organization of the 2030 World Cup. This railway tunnel project makes the currently the subject of a new seismic study over six months, in order to assess the feasibility of this infrastructure which could transform trade between Europe and Africa. The Spanish government commissioned a seismic study to explore the geological conditions of the site.
This investigation will be carried out using four seabed seismometers, which will provide detailed data on the tectonic activity of the region. TEKPAM Ingeniería was chosen for this mission, with a budget of 486,420 euros.
This work, supervised by the Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada Española, marks a major milestone in this project. The results could remove the uncertainties that have weighed on the technical feasibility of the tunnel for years.
For the first time, decision-makers will have up-to-date data to assess whether this megaproject is compatible with the unique geological constraints of the Strait. The most recent estimates predict that this underwater link will be able to accommodate 12.8 million travelers per year, while ensuring the transit of 13 million tonnes of goods.
Yassine Saber / ECO Inspirations
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