Completed in record time ahead of AFCON 2025, Rabat’s Stade Al Medina reflects Morocco’s ambitious stadium modernization program and rising sporting profile. If you support North Africa’s rapidly evolving football infrastructure, vote for Stade Al Medina in Stadium of the Year 2025.

Origins of the investment and construction rocess

Plans to build the stadium were first announced in late 2023, several months after Morocco was officially awarded the right to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The project was initiated by state authorities and implemented by L’Agence Nationale des Équipements Publics (ANEP). The winning architectural concept, selected in August 2024, was designed by Amine Hjiaj of the Casablanca-based studio Pictogramme.

The main contractor was Travaux Généraux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC), working in partnership with Inter Tridim. The investment required demolishing not only the old stadium but also surrounding buildings. Ultimately, the total cost of the project exceeded 1.5 billion dirhams.

If you appreciate the dynamic development of sports infrastructure in North Africa and ambitious projects delivered under intense time pressure, vote for Stade Al Medina in the Stadium of the Year 2025 contest and help recognize one of the continent’s most exciting new arenas.

Opening and first events at Stade Al Medina

The stadium was inaugurated on 13 November 2025 with a match between the national teams of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The game, played as part of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, ended in a 1–0 victory for DR Congo thanks to a stoppage-time goal.

During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the stadium is set to host three group-stage matches and one round-of-16 fixture. On a daily basis, it will serve as the home ground of Union Touarga Sport.

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Architecture and key features in Rabat

Stade Al Medina is a football-specific venue with two-tier stands, where the lowest row has been elevated above pitch level to ensure better sightlines. The highest sections run along the sidelines, while the stands behind the goals gently slope downward, creating smooth and dynamic lines.

The entire structure is wrapped in a uniform white shell featuring diamond-shaped motifs, serving both as the façade and the roof. Two large video screens are positioned behind the goals. The stadium forms part of a broader sports complex in the Agdal district of Rabat, close to the National Library and the city’s main railway stations.

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Importance for Rabat and Moroccan football

The construction of Stade Al Medina was part of a wider modernization program of sports infrastructure in the capital, alongside other venues developed for AFCON 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2030. The new arena has significantly improved organizational standards in Rabat and elevated the operating conditions of Union Touarga Sport.

Thanks to its modern facilities, the stadium has the potential to become an important venue not only for domestic competitions, but also for international sporting events and cultural activities.