he Grand Stade de Marrakech is bound for a metamorphosis. The National Agency for Public Facilities has awarded the Moroccan group TGCC the first lot of its upgrade for the 2030 World Cup, a contract worth nearly 903 million dirhams covering structural work, waterproofing, cladding, joinery and painting, with a fifteen-month timeline. The works call for removing the athletics track, which will bring the stands closer to the pitch, and raising the venue’s capacity from around 41,000 to 46,000 seats.
After a first wave of works carried out in 2024 and 2025 to bring the stadium up to Confederation of African Football standards before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the arena now turns to the heavier demands of FIFA. At the foot of the Atlas, the Grand Stade joins the six Moroccan venues that, from Casablanca to Agadir, are readying to welcome the world. In 2030, when the opening whistle sounds, an entire imperial city will have been made new for the celebration.
Photo: Nilgro, CC BY 3.0.
