The Great Stadium of Marrakech: A Sports Gem Prepares for “CAN 2025” and Awaits the 2030 World Cup
The Great Stadium of Marrakech has donned a new look following the completion of the first phase of development and renovation works that lasted a year and a half, in anticipation of hosting the final matches of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. These works, which began in early 2024 and concluded in June 2025, extended beyond the sports facilities to include the changing rooms, the mixed zone, and the media area. The pitch has been entirely refurbished, and a panoramic restaurant with a capacity of 180 seats has been established, with all grandstand seats replaced by more spacious and comfortable ones.
In a clarification of the objectives for this phase, the director of the Great Stadium of Marrakech, Abdel Karim Bouili, representing the National Agency for Public Equipment, confirmed that the works focused on aligning the stadium with the standards of the Confederation of African Football. He stated that the second phase would start immediately after “CAN 2025” and will be completed by the end of 2028, which will entail removing the athletics track and increasing the capacity from 41,000 to 46,000 seats by 2030, in addition to fully covering the stadium.
In this context, the regional director of Sonarges, Mourad El Karoui, highlighted that the residents of Marrakech have reason to be proud of what he referred to as a “sports jewel,” noting that the cost of the first phase amounted to approximately 400 million dirhams. He added that the stadium now features seven VIP lounges and 15 private boxes, while the number of revolving gates has increased from 36 to 77, which will reduce the waiting time for fans to just one minute, in line with CAF and FIFA standards.
To further enhance these facilities, the stadium also includes four training pitches approved by FIFA. With the second phase of rehabilitation, the stadium will undergo an architectural transformation in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, where its design will shift from rectangular to octagonal, reflecting a modern character suitable for major football events.
Marrakech fans will have the opportunity to discover this facility in its new form during the friendly match next Saturday, where Kawkab Marrakech, recently returned to the first division, will face Tunisia’s Club Sfaxien starting at 9 PM.
