Morocco will spend almost $2bn on a new football stadium and refurbishing six others in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, which it will host with Spain and Portugal.
Reuters reports that the pledge was made as part of a partnership between the Moroccan government and Group CDG, Morocco’s state-owned pension fund.
The new stadium will be built in Benslimane, a city roughly halfway between Casablanca and Rabat.
The grounds to be upgraded are in Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir, Marrakech, and Fez.
The aim is to make all venues comply with Confederation of African Football and FIFA standards.
The refurbishments will cost $1.4bn between now and 2028.
The new stadium has a budget of $600m.
Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, said that renovation work has already started and it would progress at a pace that “guaranteed the successful organisation of both tournaments”.
Speaking about Morocco’s success in winning the African Cup, Lekjaa said: “It is the crowning achievement of tremendous work carried out by a great king. It is also the best reward for a nation passionate about football.”
