Grand Stade Hassan II – design description

Why is a new stadium needed in Casablanca?

The role of the main stadium in Casablanca, Morocco's largest metropolitan area, is held by the Stade Mohammed V. The facility is located near the city center and serves two most successful football clubs in the country (Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca). The stadium was opened in 1955 and underwent an expansion in the early 1980s.

The facility ranks among the most important in the country and for many years was also the largest in Morocco. However, due to the fact that it has an athletics track, it is not ideal for organizing football matches, and it is also far from modern standards.

For years, therefore, there have been plans to build a new stadium worthy of a metropolitan area of more than four million people with great football traditions and capable of hosting major international competitions.

The issue of a new stadium in Casablanca has been raised on the occasion of Morocco's successive candidacies to host the World Cup, and the necessity of its construction became obvious after the country was selected as co-host of the 2030 World Cup.

What were the previous plans to build a new stadium in Casablanca?

The history of plans to build a major new stadium in Casablanca dates back to the late 20th century. The first design of the Grand Stade de Casablanca was made in connection with Morocco's candidacy to host the 2006 World Cup, and another concept was prepared in the race to host the 2010 World Cup. However, after the failures of these candidacies, the desire to build a new stadium was still declared.

In 2010, a new concept, referring to the desert rose, was prepared by the French bureau SCAU. In 2011, an architectural competition was held with the participation of renowned studios from around the world. It was won by the vision of a consortium of Space Group from Norway and local Belahmer Said. None of the new designs lived to see realization.

Another concept emerged in 2018, on the occasion of Morocco's bid to host the 2026 World Cup. The new design for the Grand Stade de Casablanca was prepared by Spain's Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos, and the stadium was to hold 93,000 spectators and be the venue for the opening match and the final. However, Morocco again lost the battle to host the World Cup, and the project once again remained only on paper.

How did the plans for Grand Stade Hassan II come about?

Morocco decided to apply to host the next World Cup, in 2030, which was the country's sixth attempt. Initially, Morocco wanted to compete on its own, but eventually joined the common initiative of Spain and Portugal.

This time the attempt was successful – on October 4, 2023 Spain, Portugal and Morocco were announced as the hosts of the tournament, in addition to three South American countries: Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, which are to host one game each.

With Morocco being awarded the role of co-host of the 2030 World Cup, the construction of a new stadium in Casablanca became a necessity. The Moroccans wanted to seize the opportunity and bet on an even more ambitious project than before. It was assumed that the new Grand Stade de Casablanca should hold 115,000 spectators to become the largest football stadium in the world.

Shortly after Morocco was awarded the co-hosting role, back in October 2023, the government signed an agreement with the public financial institution Caisse de dépôt et de gestion (CDG), providing financing for investment in stadiums being prepared for the World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (which will also be held in Morocco).

Also in October 2023, a new architectural competition for a stadium for Casablanca was launched. Twelve teams of architects entered the competition, with renowned studios from around the world working on the concepts. Seven projects qualified for the final stage.

In March 2024, it was announced that the competition was won by the joint bid of the Oualalou + Choi and Populous studios, and in July 2024 the first renderings of the new stadium appeared. The future venue was also renamed Grand Stade Hassan II, in honor of the King of Morocco from 1961 to 1999.

What will Grand Stade Hassan II be like?

The vision for the new Grand Stade Hassan II is inspired by the traditional moussem festival held annually in the southwestern part of the country. The irregular, conical form of the stadium's roof/elevation is meant to evoke the tents set up for the duration of the moussem, but can also be interpreted as a reflection of Morocco's mountainous landscapes.

Under the unique, translucent covering will be not only the stands, but also a considerable amount of open space. The stands will have a football-specific layout and will accommodate 115,000 spectators. The stands along the pitch will be higher and will be divided into several tiers. The stadium will have skyboxes, VIP seating and hospitality areas.

The sectors behind the goals, in turn, will form large, single-level stands to facilitate fans' match choreography, similar to the famous Südtribüne at Borussia Dortmund's stadium or England's The Kop. Elongated video screens will be placed above them.

The single-tier stands behind the goals will be dedicated to the most ardent fans of the Wydad and Raja. The derby between these teams ranks among the most famous in the world, and their fans are known for creating a passionate atmosphere and spectacular displays.

Providing the ultras with stands behind the goals will continue the arrangement prevailing at Stade Mohammad V, where the stands on the curves are occupied by them: the northern one, called Frimija, is the heart of the support of Wydad fans, and the southern one, called Magana, gathers the loudest fans of the Raja club.

Will Grand Stade Hassan II be the largest football stadium in the world?

With a capacity of 115,000 spectators, the new Grand Stade Hassan II will surpass, among others, Pyongyang's Rungrado May Day Stadium, which can hold 114,000 people. It will undoubtedly be the largest among football-specific stadiums in the world.

What will be included in the surroundings of the Stade Grand Hassan II?

The surrounding area will include an athletics stadium with an auditorium for 25,000 people, an Olympic swimming pool, as well as a convention and exhibition center, a shopping mall, a hotel, parking lots and green areas. The whole will create a huge sports and entertainment complex, covering an area of 100 hectares.

Where will the Stade Grand Hassan II be built?

Grand Stade Hassan II is to be built in Benslimane, a site quite distant from the center of Casablanca (about 40 km) and a dense residential area. The designated site is also relatively close to Rabat (about 60 km). The site has already been chosen when previous plans were made for the new Grand Stade de Casablanca.

A new highway linking Casablanca and Rabat is to run next to the stadium, as well as a high-speed rail line. Two train stations are planned nearby: one for high-speed rail and another for regional rail. It is expected to take just 15 minutes to reach the stadium by high-speed train from Casablanca.

Who will the Stade Grand Hassan II serve?

The facility will be capable of hosting major international events and is the most important part of Morocco's bid to prepare for the 2030 World Cup. The Moroccans even hope the Stade Grand Hassan II will host the final of the World Cup, although it has serious contenders which include the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and Camp Nou.

On a day-to-day basis, the Stade Grand Hassan II is to serve two local clubs (Wydad and Raja), whose fixtures count among some of the most famous derby matches in the world. As the largest stadium in the country, the facility will de facto serve as the national stadium and is expected to frequently host the Moroccan national team.

When will the Stade Grand Hassan II be built?

Construction of the new Stade Grand Hassan II is expected to begin later in 2024. The facility should be ready by the end of 2028, ahead of the scheduled start of the 2030 World Cup. The cost of building the stadium is expected to be 4.5 billion dirhams.