Rabat: Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan inaugurated the renovated ‘Prince Moulay Abdellah’ stadium in Rabat on Thursday, ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Morocco and Niger. The stadium, with a capacity of 68,700 seats, will host the match on Friday.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the stadium offers advanced facilities, including hospitality spaces across three categories, 110 boxes, and five lounges accommodating 5,400 seats. Additionally, it is equipped for people with reduced mobility and features a comprehensive media area for print and audiovisual coverage.

A significant innovation at the stadium is its hybrid natural turf, a first in Africa, which combines natural grass with synthetic fibers. This innovation ensures optimal conditions for drainage, durability, rapid recovery, and player safety. The renovation also included the construction of five engineering structures and six car parks to improve stadium access.

Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan’s arrival at the stadium was marked by a review of the Royal Guard and a reception by government members, institutional leaders, local authorities, and project architects. The ‘Prince Moulay Abdellah’ stadium is now a symbol of Morocco’s commitment to sporting and infrastructural development, built in compliance with FIFA 2030 standards.

The inauguration coincides with Morocco’s crucial match against Niger in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Morocco, leading Group E with 15 points, needs four points from its matches against Niger and Zambia to secure a spot in the competition set to be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.