Featured image credit: Sonarges
Morocco has opened a new stadium amid its major infrastructure investment drive, with Grand Stade Al-Hoceima staging its first game.
Located in Al Hoceima Province, in the north of the country, the 11,000-seat stadium (pictured in July) debuted by hosting a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, which saw Comoros defeat Madagascar 1-0 on Monday.
The delivery of the stadium is part of the broader Al Hoceima, Manarat Al Moutawassit program which has sought to redevelop the province’s rural and urban zones after an earthquake in 2004.
The stadium is located around 18 kilometres from the centre of the city of Al Hoceima and has been built at a reported cost of MAD440m (£34.8m/€41.8m/$44m). It has been delivered by the National Society for the Development and Management of Sports Facilities (Sonarges).
“This project is part of the vision of developing national sport and providing modern facilities that meet international standards,” Sonarges said in a statement.
Morocco is due to host the 2025 AFCON, as well as co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. While Grand Stade Al-Hoceima is not set to be a host venue for either tournament, its delivery is part of a wave of stadium work in the country, headlined by Grand Stade Hassan II.
The first official images were released in August of the 115,000-capacity stadium in Casablanca which is intended to be the focal point of Morocco’s World Cup co-hosting. The venue has been designed by Paris-based architects Oualalou + Choi and sports design company Populous, and is due to be the largest football stadium in the world.
Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) is currently providing cost management services for the project.
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