Paris-based studio Oualalou Choi and international architecture firm Populus will design the largest football stadium in the world. The facility will be able to accommodate as many as 115,000 spectators and will be built 38 km from Casablanca in Morocco. The entire structure will be covered with a huge sheet reminiscent of traditional Berber tents. The Grand Stade Hassan II is part of the preparations for the 2030 World Cup hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Interestingly, the largest stadium in the world that is not exclusively a football pitch is located in the ‘Hermit Kingdom’.
Atlas Lions
The stadium will be built in the small town of El Mansouria located a few kilometres from the coast. On an area of more than 100 hectares, the architects will create a sports facility embedded in the surrounding greenery. Each of the stadium’s huge sectors will be able to accommodate 29 500 spectators, with separate royal and VIP sections offering a further 12 000 seats. The most interesting element of the project will be a huge sheet made of aluminium mesh, which will cover the stands and plazas in front of the stadium. The structure will be based on large columns and staircases with green terraces, suspended 28 m above the ground. What’s more, gardens will also be located in the covered plazas in front of the venue.
The motif of a sheet superimposed on the nature of northern Morocco is no accident. The sharp shapes of the roof are reminiscent of the Atlas mountain range separating the north of the country from the main part of the Sahara. Such a design makes additional sense given the nickname of Morocco’s football team, the ‘Lions of the Atlas’.
The nation’s tent
The architects also wanted to make reference to the tents of the nomadic Berbers who are the second most numerous ethnic group in the country. The people, who mainly live in the Maghreb (north-west Africa), are known for their celebrations and their traditions related to the harvest. The moussem tradition can take various forms related to religion, local culture, performances and trade. Originally, however, Moroccan moussem was associated with pilgrimages in honour of local saints (in this case sheikhs, or tribal elders or Islamic clerics). The architectural studio explains, however, that the most important inspiration for the design was the idea of community and hospitality occurring during moussem. Thus, the project will bring 115,000 people together under a common Berber tent.
King Muhammad VI’s World Cup-related efforts aim to highlight his growing power in the region. While Algeria boasts the strongest economy in the Maghreb, Morocco is looking for its own ways to achieve regional dominance. One of these ways is to portray the country abroad as one that can afford the most expensive sporting events. Morocco’s national team, on the other hand, boasts a 14th place in the 2024 FIFA ranking.
Stadium records
When it comes to breaking records for the largest stadiums, India and… North Korea have to be mentioned. The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata used to hold as many as 120 000 spectators, but was reduced to 85 000 for safety reasons. The current record-holder in the category of football stadiums is Barcelona’s Camp Nou, with a capacity of 99 300. However, the largest stadium in the world, but with a diverse function, is in Pyongyang. The 1 May Stadium, according to some sources, can hold as many as 150,000 people. In reality, these figures may be closer to the already impressive 114,000. Interestingly, according to the 2024 FIFA ranking, the North Korean national team was ranked 110th.
The Stade Hassan II is also a form of honouring King Hassan II, the late father of the current King of Morocco. The patriotic overtones of the investment are expected to further emphasise national pride in the facility. No specific date for completion has yet been announced, but funding for its construction was approved at the end of last year. Once the championships have closed, the facility will be used mainly by two local teams.
Photo source: © OUALALOU CHOI, Populus
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