Key facts – Hassan II Stadium
| Location | El Mansouria, Benslimane Province – ca. 38 km northeast of Casablanca, Morocco |
| Capacity | 115,000 (planned) – world's largest football stadium |
| Status | Under construction – excavation began August 2024, main works since November 2024 |
| Completion | Expected 2028 |
| Budget | ≈ 320 million USD |
| Design | Populous with Moroccan practice Oualalou + Choi |
| 2030 role | Marquee Moroccan venue; candidate to host the World Cup final |
When the 2030 World Cup kicks off across Spain, Portugal and Morocco, one venue will tower over every other stadium on the planet - literally by the numbers. The Grand Stade Hassan II, rising out of the ground in El Mansouria near Casablanca, is designed for 115,000 spectators. If delivered as planned, it will overtake every football ground in Europe and become the largest dedicated football stadium in the world.
A tent for 115,000 people
The design, led by global stadium specialists Populous together with Moroccan architects Oualalou + Choi, is inspired by the moussem - the traditional Moroccan festival tent. Instead of a classic bowl silhouette, the stadium will sit under a vast sweeping roof structure that reads as a piece of landscape rather than a machine. Inside, three steep tiers are engineered to keep even the highest seat remarkably close to the pitch.
Construction status and timeline
Excavation works began on 15 August 2024, and official construction kicked off on 15 November 2024 with a budget of roughly 320 million US dollars. Completion is currently expected around 2028 - comfortably ahead of the tournament and with time for test events. We visit the region regularly and track progress in our stadium tracker, updating this page as milestones are hit.
The race for the 2030 final
Morocco makes no secret of its ambition: the Hassan II Stadium was conceived to host the 2030 World Cup final. The competition is fierce - Real Madrid's renovated Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona's expanded Camp Nou (~105,000 seats after renovation) are the Spanish contenders. FIFA has not yet made a decision. Whoever wins, the loser of that race will still host marquee knockout matches.
What it means for fans
A 115,000-seat stadium changes ticket maths: the biggest single allocation of any 2030 venue will be here. Casablanca is Morocco's largest city with the country's biggest airport (Mohammed V International), direct flights to most European hubs, and a fast-growing rail network - including Africa's first high-speed line, which puts Tangier about 2h10 away.
Quick answers
Where is the Hassan II Stadium located?
In El Mansouria, Benslimane Province, roughly 38 km northeast of central Casablanca, Morocco. Despite often being called the 'Casablanca stadium', it sits outside the city itself.
How many seats will the Hassan II Stadium have?
115,000 - which would make it the largest football stadium in the world, ahead of Barcelona's expanded Camp Nou (~105,000).
When will the Hassan II Stadium be finished?
Construction officially started in November 2024. Completion is expected around 2028, well ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Will the Hassan II Stadium host the 2030 World Cup final?
Not decided. It is one of three candidates, competing with the Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid) and Camp Nou (Barcelona). FIFA has not yet announced the final venue.
Related reading
Sources: Wikipedia – Hassan II Stadium, Populous – Stade Hassan II, Morocco World News. Last verified: July 2026.
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