Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Capacity and Architecture

Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium seats about 68,700 spectators in Rabat, wrapped in a facade of 19,200 champagne-coloured aluminium triangles that doubles as one of Africa's largest animated LED screens.

Capacity figures vary a little by source: the architects Populous and StadiumDB give 68,700, CAF lists 68,095 expandable to 68,700 for the 2030 World Cup, and a local guide states 69,500. The facade runs to 100,000 square metres, its parametric pattern drawn from palm leaves and the 'Point de Fez' embroidery tradition, with about 70 km of LED pixel bars built in. A 360-degree roof shields all three main stands, and the South Kop is a 23,000-capacity dual-tier fan stand, one of the largest in Africa.

Inside there are 110 VIP boxes, five hospitality lounges and a royal box, alongside VAR-ready broadcast systems, full WiFi and solar power. The wider complex holds the new 21,000-seat Stade Olympique de Rabat for athletics, a 10,000-seat indoor arena, an Olympic pool and 5,200 underground parking spaces.

AS FAR and the Morocco National Team

AS FAR, the army-affiliated club and one of Morocco's most decorated sides, is the home tenant, sharing the stadium with the Atlas Lions, who opened it by beating Niger 5–0 to become the first African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

AS FAR carried over from the original Moulay Abdellah stadium, and Morocco's men's national team uses the ground for its major home fixtures. The inaugural match on 5 September 2025, a 5–0 win over Niger, sealed Morocco's place at the 2026 World Cup. The ground links into the wider Moroccan game alongside Casablanca's Stade Mohammed V.

AFCON 2025 at Prince Moulay Abdellah

Prince Moulay Abdellah was the flagship venue of AFCON 2025, hosting Morocco's opening win over Comoros before 62,532 and the final, where Morocco were crowned champions on home soil in front of 66,526.

Morocco's run through the tournament drew near-capacity crowds at the ground:

The stadium staged Morocco's opening match, a quarter-final, a semi-final and the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, with attendances climbing through the knockout rounds.

From the 1983 Mediterranean Games to a 24-Month Rebuild

The original Stade Moulay Abdellah opened in 1983 for the Mediterranean Games with around 53,000 seats, and was demolished in 2023 and rebuilt in 24 months.

The old ground hosted matches at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, two FIFA Club World Cups, the African Games, and the first Diamond League athletics meeting held in Africa from 2016. It also staged the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, where Morocco's Atlas Lionesses reached the final.

Demolished in 2023, it was rebuilt by the architects Populous and Orange Atelier with contractor SGTM and inaugurated by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan in September 2025. The stadium is named after Prince Moulay Abdellah, a son of King Mohammed V and brother of King Hassan II, and its athletics track was moved to the new Stade Olympique de Rabat.

Getting There and the 2030 World Cup

Prince Moulay Abdellah sits about 7 km from central Rabat, reached by tramway from Madinat Al Irfane and backed by 5,200 underground parking spaces, with a high-speed rail station under construction for the 2030 World Cup.

The tramway stop is about 10 minutes from Gare Rabat Ville, and Rabat-Salé Airport is roughly 18 km away. For the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco co-hosts with Spain and Portugal, the stadium is set to host matches up to the semi-final stage. Other Moroccan host cities include Casablanca, where the much larger Grand Stade Hassan II is being built, along with Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir.