Stade Moulay El Hassan – stadium description

What does Stade Moulay El Hassan look like in brief?

The new Stade Moulay El Hassan was built as part of Morocco’s preparations to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. As a result, FUS Rabat, one of the country’s stronger football clubs, received a modern stadium with a standard far surpassing that of the team’s previous venue.

To make way for the new stadium, not only the old arena but also the adjacent swimming pool were demolished. Construction began only in the second half of 2024, yet thanks to the fast pace of work, the stadium was completed more than a month before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The stadium has a football-specific layout. Its two-tiered stands can accommodate 22,000 spectators and are fitted with foldable seats in the colors of the Moroccan flag. The entire seating area is covered, and the stadium’s structure forms a compact, harmonious volume, accentuated by a decorative exterior facade.

How did the new Stade Moulay El Hassan come about?

In September 2023, Morocco took over the organization of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, after the tournament was stripped from Guinea. Shortly afterwards, the country was also announced as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup, and the government allocated significant funds for the modernization and construction of stadiums.

One of the new stadiums was planned to replace the former facility of Fath Union Sport (FUS Rabat). Until then, it had been a rather modest stadium with a single stand on the west side, holding 12,000 spectators. Although it had undergone some modernization since the early 2000s, its standard remained rather low.

Thanks to the investment, FUS Rabat – one of Morocco’s stronger teams, winner of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2010 and national champion in the 2015/16 season – was set to receive a new stadium of far higher standard and almost twice the capacity.

The venue was one of several modern stadiums built in the capital, Rabat, around the same time, largely in connection with preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup – alongside the huge Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, the athletics-focused Stade Olympique de Rabat, and Stade Al Medina.

The new Stade Moulay El Hassan was planned primarily for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, although it could also act as a supporting venue during the World Cup.

When was the new Stade Moulay El Hassan built?

Work on the new stadium began in September 2024 with the demolition of the old structures. Since the new facility was to occupy a much larger area, not only the old stadium but also the adjacent swimming pool were demolished.

Actual construction started at the end of 2024. The work progressed at a very good pace, and although the stadium was not ready in time for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, held between October and November 2025, it was completed more than a month before the start of the main event – the Africa Cup of Nations.

When was the new Stade Moulay El Hassan inaugurated?

The new venue was officially opened in mid-November 2025, during the second round of African qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. At that time, Rabat hosted a small tournament with four teams competing for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.

Two of the three matches of the tournament, namely one semifinal and the final, were held at Stade Moulay El Hassan. The other semifinal took place at Stade Al Medina, which was opened simultaneously.

The stadium’s inauguration took place during the semifinal on 13 November 2025, in which Nigeria defeated Gabon 4–1 after extra time. In the final, three days later, Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who thus secured a place in the World Cup playoffs.

What does Stade Moulay El Hassan look like?

The stadium was built with a typical football layout, featuring two-tiered stands surrounding the pitch. It can accommodate 22,000 spectators, and the first row of seats is raised above pitch level, providing fans with better visibility.

The main stand, with extensive facilities and VIP boxes, is located on the west side. The stadium is equipped with foldable seating, two large video screens, LED bands, lighting, and a sound system, and all stands are fully covered by a roof.

The stadium was designed according to the latest trends and meets very high standards. Its name honours Morocco’s Crown Prince, Moulay Hassan, and the seats are colored in the red and green of the Moroccan flag.

From the outside, the building is clad in a decorative façade, giving the entire structure a compact, cohesive form. At night, the façade can be illuminated in various colors. The stadium is located in the eastern part of Rabat, in the Hay Nahda district.

What is Stade Moulay El Hassan used for?

On a daily basis, the stadium serves the football club FUS Rabat. It was also built with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in mind, during which it will host three group-stage matches and one round-of-16 fixture. In the future, it may also be used for other international events.