Grand Stade Hassan II: Morocco's New World Cup Stadium
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| Location | El Mansouria, Benslimane Province, about 38 km north of central Casablanca |
|---|---|
| Planned capacity | About 115,000 seats |
| Stage | Under construction. Not open to the public |
| Completion target | Reported as late 2027, with 2028 the outer estimate |
| Status checked | 20 October 2026 |
The Grand Stade Hassan II is the only one of Morocco’s six World Cup venues being built from scratch. Planned for about 115,000 seats, it would be the largest stadium in Africa when it opens. It stands at El Mansouria in Benslimane Province, about 38 kilometres north of central Casablanca, and is under construction.
What’s happening
The stadium was designed by Populous with the Paris practice Oualalou + Choi, whose scheme won the design competition in March 2024. Their concept draws on the moussem, the traditional Moroccan seasonal gathering, and places the whole stadium under one large tented roof in a wooded landscape. Populous’s project page shows the design.
Work began in August 2024. The ground was levelled by around May 2025 and the main structure has been rising since. The roof, seating, access roads and the surrounding facilities still have to be finished. The project is managed by ANEP, Morocco’s public infrastructure agency.
Why it matters
Size is the point. FIFA requires at least 80,000 seats for a World Cup opening match or final, so the stadium is central to Morocco’s hope of staging the 2030 final. FIFA said in September 2026 that it had not yet chosen the venue for the final.
When it might be ready
Reports give late 2027 as the completion target, with 2028 as the outer estimate. These are construction targets, not opening dates: a stadium is finished, then commissioned and tested with events before it hosts a tournament. No public opening date has been announced.
What changes for visitors and residents
There is nothing to visit yet. The site is closed and works traffic around it is heavy.
It is not in Casablanca. There is no public transport to the site today. ONCF plans a station for the stadium on the new high-speed line, but it is not built and no services have been published; the rail dossier follows its progress. Match-day roads, parking and park-and-ride have not been announced either.
Where to stay in 2030. Until a match-day transport plan exists, assume a long transfer from central Casablanca. Rabat and Mohammedia become sensible bases only once rail services are confirmed.
For residents of the Casablanca–Rabat corridor, expect years of construction traffic. If the planned station and road links are delivered, a largely rural area gains a new transport hub.
Practical Tips
- The site is a construction zone. There is nothing to visit and no public access.
- A Casablanca hotel is not a stadium hotel. Plan for a transfer of nearly 40 km until match-day transport is published.
- The planned railway station is not open. Treat rail access as a plan until ONCF publishes services.