[ad_1]
Morocco Renovates Grand Stadium of Marrakech Ahead of AFCON 2025Rabat – The Grand Stadium of Marrakech has reopened after a sweeping renovation, just in time to serve as one of the main stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The arena, already familiar to global audiences from the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013 and 2014, now presents itself in a renewed form that matches continental and international standards.
A new look for Morocco’s sporting stage
The first phase of upgrades began in early 2024 and concluded in June 2025. Abdelkerim Bouilli, development director of the stadium representing the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP), explained that the works focused on full compliance with Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements. Locker rooms, the mixed zone, and the media areas were restructured, while the pitch itself was completely relaid.
Fans will find a more comfortable experience inside the venue. All seats have been replaced with wider models, a 180-seat panoramic restaurant has been added, and the flow of supporters has been improved. Turnstiles now number 77 instead of 36, reducing the time between entry and reaching the stands to only a minute.
Morocco’s investment in football
The cost of the first phase stands at around MAD 400 million ($40 million). For Morad Karaoui, regional director of Sonarges – the company in charge of managing sports facilities – the stadium represents “an architectural jewel” for Marrakech. The arena now includes seven VIP lounges and 15 sky boxes, along with four FIFA-approved training pitches.
The works tell Morocco’s decision to prepare world-class venues for national and international events. The AFCON 2025 finals will serve as the first major test for the revamped stadium.
Morocco plans to invest around $5 billion into infrastructure development, seeking to revitalize the economy and raise tourist arrivals from 15.9 million in the first 11 months of 2024 to a projected 26 million by 2030.
The ambitious development plan covers upgrades to five current stadiums and allocates MAD 5 billion ($500 million) to build a 115,000-seat stadium in Benslimane near Casablanca, which is expected to become the largest football venue in the world.
Towards the FIFA World Cup 2030
A second phase of renovation is already scheduled after AFCON 2025. Between 2026 and 2028, the athletics track will disappear, the stadium will be fully roofed, and its capacity will rise from 41,000 to 46,000 seats by 2030.
The project also includes reshaping the structure from a rectangle to an octagon, aligning with Morocco’s ambitions as co-host of the FIFA World Cup 2030.
Before welcoming continental stars, the stadium opens its doors to local supporters. This Saturday evening, Kawkab Marrakech, newly promoted to Botola Pro D1, faces Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel in a friendly match.
Morocco’s preparations for these major sporting events go beyond stadium renovations. The North African country is investing heavily in infrastructure, modernizing roads, expanding transport networks, and upgrading airports to ensure smooth travel for fans and teams alike.
[ad_2]
Source link