Casablanca Giants Raja and Wydad Set to Receive Their Own Stadiums

Marrakech – After public attention had largely shifted toward the new 115,000-seat Hassan II Stadium, currently under construction and widely expected to become the shared home of Casablanca’s two historic rival clubs, the president of the National Professional Football League (LNFP), Abdeslam Belkchour, announced instead that Raja and Wydad will each be provided with their own stadium.

During his appearance on 2M TV’s “Replay” program on Sunday, Belkchour revealed that advanced discussions are underway with local authorities to make this long-awaited project a reality.

“It’s time for Raja and Wydad to have their own stadiums,” Belkchour stated, stressing that “a club must have its own home.”

According to Belkchour, the Raja could receive a stadium in the Tessema area, while Wydad might see its facility built in Bourgogne or El Hank – areas historically associated with the club’s fanbase. Each stadium would be designed to reflect the club’s identity and colors – green for Raja and red for Wydad.

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The LNFP president confirmed he has already held talks with Mohamed Mhidia, the Wali (governor) of the Casablanca-Settat region.

He praised Mhidia for his significant support for football in Casablanca, noting the governor’s personal involvement in overseeing renovation work at both the Mohammed V Complex, commonly known as “Donor,” and Larbi Zaouli Stadium.

Belkchour reassured fans that constructing new private stadiums would not mean abandoning the Mohammed V Complex, which will remain central to Casablanca’s football infrastructure.

The financial aspect of the project is currently being developed through a joint funding mechanism. “We are preparing a financial package involving the City Council, Regional Council, Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and the Ministry of Sports,” Belkchour explained.

According to Belkchour, these future complexes would help provide the clubs with their own resources and sustainable financial stability, critical factors for their continued development and success in both domestic and international competitions.

Having dedicated stadiums would allow both clubs to better organize their activities and generate new revenue streams, particularly through official club stores and improved commercial operations.

Belkchour noted that the stadiums would become more than sporting venues – they would serve as cultural spaces featuring club museums and areas for cultural and artistic activities.

For Raja and Wydad, the stakes are high. Repeated closures of the Mohammed V Complex for renovations have often penalized both clubs financially and competitively.

Owning their stadiums would provide greater stability, enhance the fan experience, and represent a long-awaited leap from borrowed grounds to true homes worthy of their legends and a step toward the complete professionalization of these iconic Moroccan clubs.

These stadiums are set to be a game-changer for Moroccan club football, deepening club identity, elevating matchday culture, and aligning Raja and Wydad with globally rooted institutions like FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

Belkchour insisted that institutional and economic stability for clubs depends on owning their facilities, calling the stadium “the house of the club, its space of anchorage and identity.”