Stadium specialists Populous and architects Oualalou + Choi have joined forces to design an extraordinary new stadium in the form of a giant tent. Called Grand Stade Hassan II, the stadium will be located near Casablanca, Morocco, and will be the largest football stadium in the world.
The stadium is being built for Morocco’s upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosting alongside Portugal and Spain. The building, reminiscent of Qatar’s Bedouin-inspired stadium, is inspired by a traditional Moroccan gathering place known as Moussem.
It will have a capacity of 115,000 fans, making it the largest-capacity football stadium in the world. For perspective, it will be bigger than the official capacity of the largest sports stadium in the US, which holds 107,601 fans.
Its tent-like design will include an aluminum lattice exterior to help shade and ventilate spectators. Additionally, landscaping will be a major focal point, with 32 loops of stairs creating passageways with lush plantings set on raised platforms, as well as some botanical gardens. It will also house two local football clubs.
“Grand Stade Hassan II is deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, with its traditions and contemporary expressions,” says Tarik Oualalou, Design Director and co-founder at Oualalou + Choi and Chief Architect of the project. “It is based on ancient and primitive figures: the moussem, the tent and the garden, as well as the topography and landscapes of Morocco. It is a generous space, open to the world and respectful of the nature it protects. Grand Stade Hassan II de Casablanca epitomizes the great tradition of Moroccan hospitality.”
Preparations for the start of construction are currently underway on a 100-hectare (247-acre) site in the town of El Mansouria, near Casablanca. We don't yet know when it will be completed, but it will definitely be finished by 2030.
Sources: Populous, Oualalou + Choi