FIFA has published a dossier in recent days outlining all the details of the venues that will host at least one match during the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Spain will be the country with the most World Cup venues. Of the 20 venues, 11 will be in Spain, 6 in Morocco and 3 in Portugal. Three stadiums are candidates to host the tournament final: the Bernabéu, the Camp Nou and the Casablanca stadium..
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has declared the Real Madrid stadium the favourite and FIFA hinted last June that it would help Spain to achieve this. However, Morocco does not intend to remain silent. and they are trying to sell their mega project for the largest stadium in the world: the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca, with a worldwide campaign and before FIFA..
The regime of Mohamed VI has been carrying out a strategy for months to rob Spain of the World Cup final that will be held in 2030 and to ensure that the match is played in what is intended to be the largest stadium in the world, located in Casablanca. Through media outlets around the world – including Spanish ones – is orchestrating a campaign that seeks to reflect the virtues of this new building to convince FIFA that Morocco is the best option.
The Casablanca Mega Stadium
This Wednesday, The American architectural firm Populous, which is designing the project in collaboration with the Franco-Moroccan firm Oulalous + Choi (O+C), has released new images of the stadium and Moroccan media assured that the country will fight with FIFA to win the final. “Morocco is preparing a big surprise to host the 2030 World Cup final instead of Spain and Portugal” or “The largest stadium in the world to steal the World Cup final from Spain,” could be read in the press of the neighbouring country.
The “Hassan II Grand” stadium in Casablanca, The stadium, which has already begun to be built, is an icon of Moroccan football and will have a capacity of 115,000 seats.making it an ideal setting for the most important match of the tournament.
29,500 spectators in each fund
Morocco has committed to preparing the stadiums for the event, and construction and expansion work has begun on several of them. In addition, Morocco has designated several venues to host the rallies that will accompany the 2030 World Cup. The Grand Theatre of Rabat will be the venue for the draw for the preliminary round and the final phase, while Benguerir Conference Centre will host workshops and seminars for the participating teams; and The Grand Theatre of Casablancafor its part, will be the place where The International Football Federation conference will be held.
The design is inspired by the traditional Moroccan social gathering known as the “moussem”, with the stadium structure housed under a large tented roof that emerges as a dramatic intervention in the wooded landscape. At either end of the huge stadium, three steep and compact stands ensure a vibrant and spectacular atmosphere. Each end of the stadium has a capacity for 29,500 general admission spectators..
VIP box and even a botanical garden
It will also include five levels of hospitality in both main stands, where the 12,000 VVIIP, VIP, Hospitality and Box users will be located, in addition to the royal box. The stadium It is covered by a spectacular roof made from a unique aluminum lattice. Supporting the geometry of the roof and the stadium is a ring of 32 staircases that create monumental gateways that feature lush gardens set on elevated platforms, each 28 meters above the ground. Additionally, according to images published by Populous, There will be three basketball courts, five training football fields and three buildings, as well as a botanical garden..
Once the tournament is over, it will serve as the home of two local clubs. Construction is already underway on a 100-hectare site in the town of El Mansouria, in the province of Benslimane, 38 km north of Casablanca, after public funding was approved in October 2023. The Grand Stade Hassan II has an estimated price of 450 million euros and the selected land covers an area of 100 hectares. The international campaign has begun and Spain must get its act together.