Grand Stade Hassan II: guide to Morocco's new World Cup stadium
Planned as the largest football stadium in the world, the Grand Stade Hassan II is rising in the countryside between Casablanca and Rabat. Here is what is built, what is planned and how fans will get there.
Published 26 October 2026 · By Hicham, World to Morocco
The Grand Stade Hassan II is a new 115,000-seat stadium under construction in El Mansouria, Benslimane province, about 38–40 km north-east of Casablanca and 18 km from Mohammedia. It is Morocco's main 2030 World Cup venue and its candidate for the final. Completion is reported for late 2027 or 2028, and a new train station is planned next to it.
When it opens, the stadium is planned to be the biggest football ground on the planet, ahead of Barcelona's rebuilt Camp Nou. For now it is a building site in open farmland near the small town of Benslimane, served by a regional road that is being widened.
That matters for fans. Unlike Rabat's or Marrakech's stadiums, this one is not in a city: you will sleep in Casablanca, Mohammedia or Rabat and travel out on matchday. This guide covers what is confirmed so far, and flags what is not.
Where is the Grand Stade Hassan II?
The site covers about 100 hectares in the rural commune of El Mansouria, in Benslimane province, between Casablanca and Rabat. Moroccan press reports put it about 38 km from Casablanca and 18 km from Mohammedia, with Rabat around 60 km away. The nearest road is the R313, which links Mohammedia and Benslimane and is being widened for the stadium.
| From | Distance (approx.) | Likely way in |
|---|---|---|
| Casablanca centre | 38–40 km | Train to the planned stadium station, or road |
| Mohammedia | 18 km | Road via the R313; train |
| Rabat centre | ≈60 km | Train |
The stadium is often called the "Casablanca stadium" or "Grand Stade de Casablanca", but it is not in the city. Check the exact venue when you book.
Capacity and design
The stadium is planned for about 115,000 spectators, the figure used by Moroccan officials and in the 2026 construction tenders. It was designed by the Moroccan-based practice Oualalou + Choi with Populous, the firm that also designed Rabat's new stadium.
The design takes its cue from the moussem, the traditional gatherings held under large tents: a single sweeping roof covers the stands, with a large open plaza beneath it. Steep, football-only stands put spectators close to the pitch. Around it, the 100-hectare complex is planned to include an athletics stadium, an Olympic pool, a convention centre, a hotel, parking and green spaces.
Construction status
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | Earthworks contract awarded to SGTM; work starts on site |
| July 2025 | MAD 605 million contract for the access roads awarded to five Moroccan firms |
| March 2026 | Roof and façade contract, worth more than MAD 3.7 billion, awarded to a TGCC–SGTM joint venture |
| August 2026 | Tenders worth about MAD 3.05 billion launched for external works, the pitch and the seating |
| Late 2027 – 2028 | Reported completion target |
Dates for completion differ. Morocco's federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has spoken of 2027; stadium database StadiumDB gives the end of 2028 at the latest. Either way, the stadium should be finished well before June 2030. FIFA has not yet said which matches it will host.
How to get there
Transport is being built with the stadium, so plans may change. What has been announced:
- Train: ONCF is building a new station near the stadium, budgeted at about MAD 450 million, with capacity for 12 million passengers a year and a 300-space car park. It is planned to be served from Casablanca and Rabat; StadiumDB reports a journey of about 15 minutes from Casablanca. This should be the easiest way in.
- Road: a new access-road network and the widening of the Mohammedia–Benslimane road are under way. Expect road closures and heavy traffic on matchdays.
- Shuttles: official matchday shuttles have not been announced yet. During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ONCF added extra trains and special stops on match days.
Our guide to getting around Morocco explains how to book ONCF trains and Al Boraq high-speed services.
Where to stay
Benslimane is a small town with limited accommodation, so most fans will stay in one of three bases:
- Casablanca, for the most hotels, the international airport and the best restaurants. Stay near Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port stations for quick trains.
- Mohammedia, the closest city, with beaches and a growing choice of hotels.
- Rabat, calmer and greener, with hotels near its stations.
We compare areas and hotel types in our guide to hotels near Morocco's World Cup stadiums.
Matchday tips
- Plan to arrive two to three hours before kick-off: a 115,000-seat crowd takes time to get through security.
- Use the train if the stadium station is open; parking and roads will be the bottleneck.
- Alcohol is not sold in Moroccan stadiums.
- Charge your phone: recent World Cups have used mobile tickets only.
- June evenings near the coast are mild, but bring water and a hat for afternoon games.
Things to do nearby
Make a day of it in Casablanca: visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, walk the Art Deco centre and finish on the Ain Diab Corniche. Mohammedia has long sandy beaches, and Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas is less than an hour away by train. Our Casablanca travel guide has the details.
Will the final be played here?
Morocco wants it to be. The Grand Stade Hassan II is one of three stadiums competing for the 2030 final, with Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu and Barcelona's Camp Nou. FIFA has not decided, and Spanish media report the choice will not come before 2028. Read where the 2030 World Cup final will be played for the full picture.
Sources
- StadiumDB: Grand Stade Hassan II (design, architects, schedule)
- Le360: MAD 3.05 billion in new tenders (24 August 2026)
- Hespress: roof and façade contract awarded to SGTM and TGCC (March 2026)
- Hespress: works speed up on the Mohammedia–Benslimane road
- Hespress: MAD 605 million access-road contract
- Bladi.net: the new Benslimane station (1 October 2025)
- Morocco World News: stadium design unveiled (July 2024)
Last checked 26 October 2026. Stadium figures change as work progresses; we update this page when official sources do.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Grand Stade Hassan II?
In the rural commune of El Mansouria, Benslimane province, between Casablanca and Rabat. It is about 38–40 km from central Casablanca and 18 km from Mohammedia.
What is the capacity of the Grand Stade Hassan II?
About 115,000 seats are planned, which would make it the largest football stadium in the world.
When will the Grand Stade Hassan II be finished?
Completion is reported for late 2027 or 2028. Official sources have not given a fixed opening date.
How do you get to the Grand Stade Hassan II?
A new train station is being built next to the stadium, to be served from Casablanca and Rabat. New access roads are also under construction. Matchday shuttles have not been announced yet.
Will the 2030 World Cup final be played at the Grand Stade Hassan II?
It has not been decided. The stadium is competing with the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Camp Nou in Barcelona, and FIFA says it will decide in due course.