Stade Moulay Abdellah – design description
What is the design of the new Stade Moulay Abdellah in a nutshell?
A major new football stadium is being built in Rabat, Morocco's capital, to replace the decommissioned Stade Moulay Abdellah. Construction began in the summer of 2023 with the demolition of the old stadium. The new facility should be ready in 2025 and will be one of the venues for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup. Along with the football stadium, a smaller track and field stadium will also be built adjacent to it.
What did the old Stade Moulay Abdellah look like?
Stade Moulay Abdellah was opened in 1983. It was one of the most important stadiums in Morocco and often hosted major international events, including matches at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 and 2022 (2023) Club World Cups, as well as the 2019 African Games. The annual athletics meeting held at the stadium, from 2016 was included (as the first in Africa) in the prestigious Diamond League series.
On a day-to-day basis, the main user of the facility was the Association sportive des Forces armées royales (AS FAR) football club, which ranks (alongside two Casablanca-based teams, Wydad AC and Raja CA) as one of the most successful teams in Morocco. The stadium's capacity was about 50,000 spectators.
When will the new Stade Moulay Abdellah be built?
An account of the construction of the new Stade Moulay Abdellah can be seen on a separate subpage
The old stadium hosted important sports events until its last days. On July 8, 2023, it hosted the final of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, in which the Moroccan national team defeated Egypt 2–1 (after extra time) in front of a full crowd and won the competition for the first time in its history. On July 28, 2023, two finals (boys' and girls') of the World School Football Championship were played at the Stade Moulay Abdellah.
After the end of the World School Football Championship, in late July 2023, the first works began. Before the actual construction could begin, it was necessary to demolish the old stands. The old stadium was demolished fairly quickly, with only the west stand surviving longer – its decommissioning was completed in late autumn 2023, when construction of the new stands on the other sides was already underway.
Construction of the new stadium is expected to be completed in 2025, and the facility should be ready for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which is scheduled to take place in late December 2025 and early January 2026.
Due to the construction, AS FAR have temporarily moved to the Stade Municipal de Kénitra. Diamond League meetings are to be held at the Grand Stade de Marrakech until the new athletics stadium opens.
When were plans for the new Stade Moulay Abdellah unveiled?
The authorities have been rather sparse in sharing information about the project under way. It was initially known that a new, much larger facility with a capacity of well over 60,000 spectators was being built to replace the distinguished Stade Moulay Abdellah.
Due to the great popularity of football, and the desire to host the World Cup, it was decided to build a football-specific facility. However, in order to ensure the ability to continue organizing prestigious athletic competitions, a smaller stadium with an athletic profile was also to be built next to it.
The first official rendering of the possible appearance of the future stadium in Rabat did not appear until late July 2024, on the occasion of the publication of the bid of Morocco, Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup (bid book).
What major events are planned for the new Stade Moulay Abdellah?
When construction began, Morocco was bidding to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and (most notably) to co-host the 2030 World Cup, along with Spain and Portugal.
Both of these candidacies were successful: On September 27, 2023, Morocco was announced as the host of the Africa Cup of Nations, and on October 4, 2023, the organization of the World Cup was awarded to the candidacy of Morocco, Spain and Portugal (along with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, where one game each is to be held at the start of the tournament).
The new stadium in Rabat is expected to host matches for both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, and it is possible that the new Stade Moulay Abdellah will host one of the semifinals at the 2030 World Cup.
What will the new Stade Moulay Abdellah be like?
Where will the new Stade Moulay Abdellah be built?
The new stadium is being built on the site of the old Stade Moulay Abdellah, on the southwestern outskirts of Rabat, next to the railroad and exit roads leading toward Casablanca. A 10,000-seat arena (Salle Moulay Abdellah) and an indoor swimming pool stand next to the stadium under construction.
Near the stadium is Rabat's new (opened in 2022) main bus station (gare routière de Rabat). Construction also began in early 2024 on a high-speed rail station called Hay Riad, which is expected to be ready before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Along with the new football stadium, a smaller athletics stadium (tentatively referred to as the Stade Olympique de Rabat) is also being built adjacent to it, and will stand in place of the two training running tracks that previously existed there. The facility is expected to hold 25,000 spectators, and will be prepared to host high-level competitions, including Diamond League series.
What will the new Stade Moulay Abdellah look like?
The new stadium is expected to have a football-specific character. The stands will be divided into several tiers and will accommodate 68,700 spectators, making the facility one of the largest in the country. The stand behind the south goal will be divided into two floors only, with a large upper tier where AS FAR's fiercest supporters will have their headquarters.
Who will patronize the new Stade Moulay Abdellah?
Like its predecessor, the new stadium is to be named after Prince Moulay Abdellah – son of King Muhammad V and brother of King Hassan II.
Who will the new Stade Moulay Abdellah serve?
The AS FAR football club, one of the most successful teams in Morocco, will play its matches at the stadium on a daily basis. The facility will be suitable for top-level events, such as national team matches (including World Cup games).
