The Grand Stade Hassan II in Benslimane is moving into a new stage of development, with contracts for the stadium’s playing surface and seating bringing the project closer to completion ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
The venue is expected to hold about 115,000 spectators and is planned to become one of the principal stadiums for the tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
A second contract will provide and install 114,414 seats throughout the stadium. The largest allocation will be 98,579 seats for the general public, alongside 6,396 hospitality seats, 2,754 Skybox places, 1,992 VIP seats and 359 VVIP seats.
Dedicated facilities will also be provided for people with reduced mobility, as well as for the various officials and operational teams involved in international competitions.
The scale of the seating contract offers a clearer indication of the dimensions of the future stadium. The Grand Stade Hassan II is intended to be more than a large football ground, with its design incorporating the infrastructure required to stage a major global sporting event.
Facilities for World Cup operations
The stadium will include extensive media facilities to meet the demands of the World Cup. The plans include 504 press tables, each with three places, as well as 62 individual tables.
Camera platforms will be positioned around the pitch, while designated areas will be made available for referees, medical staff and the competing teams. Two dugouts, each with room for 26 people, will be installed for substitutes.
The playing area is covered by a separate contract estimated at 92.47 million dirhams. It will include 8,150 square metres of hybrid natural grass, 2,650 square metres of artificial turf and 5,500 square metres of decorative grass.
The pitch will also feature a drainage system, automated irrigation, forced ventilation and several LED horticultural lighting units. Those systems are designed to support the maintenance and condition of the playing surface during major competitions.
Together, the two contracts are worth nearly 370 million dirhams. Each has an execution period of 14 months, marking a further step in the transformation of the Benslimane site.
The project has now moved beyond the main structural works and into a phase focused on installing the sporting and operational equipment needed for the stadium’s future use.
Once completed, the Grand Stade Hassan II is expected to become the largest football stadium in the world, with an announced capacity of about 115,000. Its role will be particularly significant during the 2030 World Cup, when Morocco hopes to stage several matches at the venue.
