Morocco unveils official design for Casablanca's 2030 World Cup stadium
Morocco has unveiled the official design of the future Hassan II stadium in Casablanca, which will be the jewel in the crown of the Moroccan kingdom in its bid to host the 2030 World Cup, which the North African country will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The design is inspired by the large traditional Moroccan marquees or tents that are set up during large events or traditional social gatherings known as Moussem.
The stadium will be one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 115,000 spectators and was designed by the American architectural firm Populous, which, in collaboration with the Franco-Moroccan firm Oulalous + Choi (O+C), won the competition to win the contract to design the Casablanca stadium for the 2030 World Cup.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the president of the World Cup Committee and Moroccan Minister of the Interior, Abdelaouafi Laftit, presented the official design of the Hassan II stadium, which will be located in the Benslimane area, in an area of 100 hectares, on the outskirts of Casablanca.
The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said the stadium will be available by the end of 2028, with a view to hosting the 2029 Club World Cup to be organised by the North African country.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the highest governing body of world football, according to various sources, could have confirmed the number of venues for each country hosting the World Cup; Spain would have 11 venues, Morocco 6 and Portugal 3, and, in this sense, Morocco's big bet to fight to host the World Cup final is the Hassan II stadium in Casablanca.
In Spain, there are sources, such as the Marca media, who point out that FIFA could have already opted for Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium to host the World Cup final. Although from Morocco it is suggested that Casablanca is still in the running to try to host the final match of the World Cup.
Fouzi Lekjaa stressed that the Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca will be the biggest and most beautiful stadium in the world and will remain so for several years to come, thanks to the technologies and equipment it will have.
Great design for the Casablanca stadium
The architectural firm Populous was commissioned to design the Hassan II stadium in Casablanca. Since its creation in 1983, Populous has become a leading global design firm dedicated exclusively to creating environments that bring people and communities together for unforgettable experiences.
The firm has completed more than 2,500 projects worldwide with a construction value in excess of $40 billion. Populous has worked with countless North American sports franchises such as MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL and NHL, professional and civic stadium clients, global football and rugby teams, universities, convention centre clients, equestrian clients and has planned more than 30 major global events.
Populous' project portfolio includes iconic sports infrastructure such as Yankee Stadium in New York, the main stadium for the London 2012 Olympic Games, Nanjing Sports Park in China, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Sydney International Convention Center, Colorado State University's new football stadium and event planning for the Super Bowl and Major League Baseball's All-Star Game.
The firm has received more than 200 design awards for its work, including three national awards from the American Institute of Architect and countless global design awards.
Populous' comprehensive services include architecture, interior design, event planning and overlay, branded environments, signage and graphics, urban planning and design, landscape architecture, aviation and transportation design, hospitality and sustainable design consulting.
The Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca will feature an exterior design inspired by the traditional Moroccan marquee, while the interior will feature imaginative facilities and meet the highest standards of safety and comfort for fans, guests, teams and various clubs, within the project presented by Populous.
