March 21, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. by Emmanuel Bernard
A 115,000-seat stadium will be built in Casablanca.
The consortium led by the architects “Oualalou + Choi” and Populous were selected to design and build the Grand Stade de Casablancaan ambitious project which aims to become the largest football stadium in the world with a capacity of 115,000 seats.
A 115,000-seat sta will be built in Casablanca
This ambitious project takes on a global dimension as Morocco, jointly with Spain and Portugal, is named potential host of the FIFA World Cup in 2030. The Grand Stade de Casablanca is expected to play a crucial role in this major event. , while becoming the landmark of two local clubs. Preparations for construction are about to begin on a 100-hectare site in El Mansouria, in Benslimane province, 38 km north of Casablanca. Approved in October 2023, the public funding (a budget of €500 million would be involved) paves the way for the construction of this large-scale infrastructure.
“The Grand Stade de Casablanca is one of the cornerstones of King Mohammed VI’s vision to develop the football infrastructure in Morocco”confides in a press release, the President of Populous France, François Clément. “The stadium will comply with FIFA standards, which would enable it to host major matches of the most prestigious international competitions, including the 2030 World Cup. The pace of construction works planned in Benslimane demonstrates the commitment of all parties involved to deliver this incredible project on time and on budget. This will be a huge asset for the country, which will raise Morocco to the highest level in the world in terms of the development of sports infrastructure. »
A design inspired by the shape of tents for the roof
The stadium’s design, inspired by the traditional Moroccan social gathering “mousem”, features an imposing tent-shaped roof. The design team, including design firms such as Maffeis Engineering, ME Engineering, Rider Levett Bucknall, Momentum and SEPSI, is committed to creating a space that reflects the cultural richness of Morocco while meeting international standards.
