The rendering of the Grand Stade Hassan II near Casablanca is impressive, resembling a large white stadium inspired by the design of a Maghrebi communal tent. The language used to describe it is equally poetic, with comparisons to Noah’s Ark and a gathering place for nature and animals. Once completed, this stadium could potentially become the largest football stadium in the world, hosting the final of the 2030 World Cup that Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
However, as with any ambitious stadium project, there are concerns about its cost, funding, and construction process. It remains uncertain whether private backing will supplement state funding for this project. There are also speculations about potential involvement from China, which constructed the main stadium for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast as part of its “palace diplomacy.”
For Morocco, hosting the final match of such a prestigious sporting event aligns with their long-held dream of joining football’s elite. The country has invested millions in upgrading sports infrastructure and building a €13m football academy to improve their national team’s performance.
According to Mahfoud Amara from Qatar University, Morocco sees this opportunity as a way to assert its regional leadership and modernize its image. Other countries in the Middle East and North Africa have been influenced by Qatar’s World Cup success and have started pursuing international sports events while investing in state-of-the-art facilities.
Authorities claim that constructing the Grand Stade Hassan II will create thousands of jobs and stimulate Morocco’s economy. However, concerns about labor conditions arise due to previous controversies surrounding Qatar’s construction projects for their 2022 World Cup.
Another issue that may affect Morocco’s hosting is Western Sahara’s disputed sovereignty. Algeria has strongly objected to Morocco occupying this territory and may consider boycotting the 2030 World Cup as a result.
Critics argue that using sporting events like these can be seen as “sportswashing,” where political controversies are overshadowed by positive media coverage generated by these tournaments. However, it is important to examine specific harms caused by such events rather than making generalizations about sportswashing.
After the tournament concludes, Grand Stade Hassan II will become home to two top clubs: Raja Casablanca and Wydad. Currently sharing Stade Mohammed V with an average attendance of only 14k per match despite its capacity being 45k seats.
Despite these concerns raised outside Morocco regarding labor conditions or territorial disputes over Western Sahara; within Moroccan society there seems great enthusiasm towards hosting such an important event due to their passion for football.
