Sir Jim Ratcliffe has Manchester United fans dreaming of a stunning new home. However, the so-called 100,000-seater “Wembley of the North” is set to be eclipsed by a remarkable new project in Morocco.
A New Stadium for the 2030 World Cup
The designers behind Tottenham’s state-of-the-art ground – Populous – have been drafted in by the Atlas Lions to design a breathtaking stadium for the 2030 World Cup. Dubbed the Grand Stade de Casablanca, the project is expected to result in the largest stadium in world football with a jaw-dropping capacity of 115,000.
Morocco is hosting the 2030 tournament with Spain and Portugal, and it is hoped that it will pressure FIFA on where to host the final, given talks to hold the final at one of the Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou following their respective revamps. The stadium will also play host to two local teams following the World Cup.
A Cornerstone of Development
Preparation work has already begun at a 100-hectare site 24 miles north of Casablanca in the town of El Mansouria near Benslimane Airport following the approval of public financing in October. UK-based Populous is being joined on the project by Moroccan architecture firm Oualalou + Choi.
Their winning design is said to draw inspiration from a local custom known as a “moussem” – an annual social gathering involving more than 30 tribes from southern Morocco and other regions of Northwest Africa. Populous announced that the design will see the stadium structure set under a grand, tented roof that emerges following a forested landscape around the ground.
Elevating Morocco to the Highest Global Platform
Company president Francois Clement said the project was a “cornerstone” for the development of Morocco’s football infrastructure. He said, “The stadium will be compliant with FIFA standards, allowing it to host the major games in the world’s most prestigious international competitions, including the World Cup 2030… It will be an immense asset to the country, elevating Morocco to the highest global platform of sporting infrastructure development.”
A Spectacular Project
Plans for the stadium have been in the works for some time, with a development deal signed in 2018. According to Morocco World News, the highest estimated budget for the project is five million Moroccan Dirham (£393,000). But given the scale of the project and the relative cost for Tottenham’s ground, it is easy to speculate that the cost will soar above this.
Members of the consortium who selected Populous and Co have experience on projects such as Qatar’s Lusail Sports Arena, the United Arab Emirates’ Khalifa Stadium, and Heathrow Airport. Morocco put feelers out for a radical new stadium design all the way back in 2011 before another concept emerged in 2018 during bidding for the 2026 World Cup.
With its stunning design and record-breaking capacity, the Grand Stade de Casablanca is set to become an iconic sports venue and a symbol of Morocco’s commitment to the world of football.
Source: The Sun