Adrar Stadium (Arabic: ملعب آدرار; Berber languages: ⴰⴱⴰⵔⴰⵣ ⵏ ⵓⴷⵔⴰⵔ (Adrar means mountain in Tamazight[1]); French: Grand Stade d’Agadir), is a multi-use stadium in Agadir, Morocco, near the Atlas Mountains, and is used by the local football team: Hassania Agadir, and sometimes the Moroccan national team and also for FIFA and CAF international football matches as a neutral venue.
Annar Adrar | |
 Adrar Stadium in 2019 | |
 | |
| Location | Hay Mohammadi 80,000 Agadir Morocco |
|---|---|
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Sonarges |
| Capacity | 45,480 |
| Field size | 105 by 84 metres (114.8 yd × 91.9 yd) (9,000 m²) |
| Surface | Grass Classic Tartan track |
| Construction | |
| Built | 4 June, 2004 2007 2009 |
| Opened | October 11, 2013 |
| Renovated | 2023-2025 2025-2028 |
| Construction cost | $103,000,000 (USD) MAD 860 million (2013) |
| Architect |
|
| Tenants | |
| Hassania Agadir (2013–present) Morocco national football team (selected matches) | |
| Website | |
| sonarges.ma | |
The construction project began on paper in 2003, with the idea of building the stadium for Morocco's failed 2006 FIFA World Cup bid. Then, in 2007, the project resumed but was only completed for its inauguration in 2013. In time for the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup that year, it also hosted the 2018 African Nations Cup
Agadir's Adrar stadium is used mostly for club football matches in the Botola Pro League and has a capacity of 45,480 spectators. There have also been various international friendlies and qualification matches played in the stadium for the Moroccan national team but it has also been a neutral venue for some Confederation of African Football (CAF) teams to play friendlies and tournament qualification matches. And, it can also host music concerts. Yet, it is undergoing renovations to increase the capacity for its use in future international football tournaments hosted in Morocco for 2025 and 2030.
History
editThe stadium's first plan began in 2003, as it was to be a host venue for 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was awarded to Germany. Then, the project was put on hold and resumed in 2007 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however, in 2010, South Africa was awarded the tournament as hosts, and plans for the stadium were paused. Again, the project was resumed for the final time in 2009 after financial restrictions on the project. The stadium was finally completed on 11 October 2013,[2][3][4] and the tenants of the stadium, Hassania Agadir played a friendly match against the Algerian side JS Kabylie. Hassania's Saad Lemti scored the first goal in the stadium in the 76th minute of the match, as the hosts, Agadir went on to win the match 1–0.[5] The Adrar stadium replaced their old venue Stade Al Inbiaâte as the home stadium of the local football club, Hassania Agadir.[6]
Stadium details
editThe stadium's facade covered in stone steps evokes a stepped pyramid, and inside is the football field, surrounded by an athletics track.[7] The final cost of the construction was 860 million MAD ($103 million in USD) in 2013, going up to 1.008 bn Moroccan Dirhams (MAD). The architects for the project were the Italian firm, Gregotti Associati International with the collaboration of the Moroccan architect Sâd Benkiran. On the site is a Conference Center, Exhibition Center, Restaurants, Snack Bar, and Shops.[8][2] The stadium completed in 2013 has a media tribune that holds 288 journalists and 12 different commentary boxes. The current stadium with a capacity of 45,000 is three-tier and has seating for a total of 5,000 VIP guests, including 3 VIP zones each capable of hosting 250 guests, and 12 lounges that can host 300 guests.[3][9]
Renovation plans
editA rendering of the stadium's renovation was confirmed in July 2024, for the stadium to be completed in phases for 2025, and then finally in 2028.[7] The Adrar Stadium will be upgraded in 2 phases for different tournaments, firstly the stadium will meet CAF's standards for the 2025 AFCON (African Cup) tournament held in Morocco. Then, the stadium will be further expanded and upgraded, but to a higher standard to meet the FIFA standards, in time for the FIFA World Cup 2030. The renovation work is part of an ongoing work funded by the CDG state fund to upgrade the country's sporting infrastructure as part of a MAD 9,400,000,000 (£756m/€867m/$920m) initial investment between 2023-2025 for the stadiums; Adrar in Agadir, Ibn Batouta in Tangier, Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Mohamed V in Casablanca, Fez Stadium and the Marrakesh Stadium. After phase one, there will be the second phase of construction between 2025 and 2028, involving another government-funded investment of between MAD 4.5 – 6 billion for the same six stadiums. Also, another MAD 5bn will be used for the construction of the new Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca to be completed by 2028. All of which will be ready for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which is to be co-hosted by Morocco and five other countries.[10][11][12][13]
Initial renovations in Adrar Stadium will see an increase in capacity of 14,144.[14] The expansion for the Adrar stadium will see its capacity increased to approximately 70,000 seats for the use of football before the 2030 World Cup.[15]
Club matches
edit
The Adrar stadium plays host to the Moroccan football club Hassania Agadir (French: Hassania Union Sport D'Agadir), who play locally in the city of Agadir. As of 2024, they are in the highest league in Morocco, the Botola Pro.[16] The team saw some success in 2019, playing in the 2019 Moroccan Throne Cup final, but losing to Tihad AS of Casablanca.[17] Hassania also qualified for the African continent in the CAF Confederation Cup, with games played in Adrar stadium. During the 2018-19 season, Hassania won games to qualify for the 2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup knockout stage, where they lost to the Egyptian team Zamalek SC in the quarter finals and were eliminated from the knockout stages of the Cup.[18]
Covid-19 pandemic
editHassania Agadir qualified for the 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup, where they progressed into the knockout stages again. However, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation made the decision to play the quarter final home match in Agadir behind closed doors against Al-Nasr of Libya, without any fans in attendance due to the restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a game Hassania won. But, they then lost in the semi-final to the fellow Moroccan team, RS Berkane. The match had been delayed for five months, because of the competition's postponement due to the pandemic.[19][20]
International matches
edit
Since its opening in 2013, the Adrar stadium in Agadir has played host to numerous football matches for clubs and countries from around the world, including FIFA (Club World Cup) and CAF (African Nations Championship) tournament games, and will host more tournaments in the future.[3] As well as Moroccan friendlies, qualification matches, and tournaments, Adrar stadium has also hosted other African nations as a neutral venue for friendlies and had various African (CAF) teams play against each other in qualification matches for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF), 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification and 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF).[21] However, the Moroccan government decided to cancel hosting the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations due to fears of the Ebola outbreak, the Adrar stadium would have been used for the tournament.[22] Instead, Equatorial Guinea was chosen as a replacement country to host the 2015 edition of AFCON.[23]
Former Moroccan men's national team manager, Ezzaki Badou has praised the stadium and its fans from the Sous area, also citing the moderate climate of Agadir as favorable for the players.[24][25]
Moroccan men's matches
editFootball matches played involving the Moroccan men's national team in Adrar stadium since its opening in 2013:[21]
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June 2024 |  Morocco |
6-0 |  Congo |
2026 FIFA-CAF Group E |
| 7 June 2024 | Morocco |
2-1 |  Zambia |
2026 FIFA-CAF Group E |
| 26 March 2024 | Morocco |
0-0 |  Mauritania |
Friendly |
| 22 March 2024 | Morocco |
1-0 |  Angola |
Friendly |
| 17 October 2023 | Morocco |
3-0 |  Liberia |
2023 ACON Qual-Group K |
| 31 May 2017 | Morocco |
1-2 |  Netherlands |
Friendly |
| 12 November 2015 | Morocco |
2-0 |  Equitorial Guinea |
2018 FIFA-CAF 2nd round |
| 12 October 2015 | Morocco |
1-1 |  Guinea |
Friendly |
| 9 October 2015 | Morocco |
0-1 |  Ivory Coast |
Friendly |
| 12 June 2015 | Morocco |
1-0 |  Libya |
2017 ACON Qual-Group F |
| 28 March 2015 | Morocco |
0-1 |  Uruguay |
Friendly |
| 16 November 2014 | Morocco |
2-1 |  Zimbabwe |
Friendly |
| 13 November 2014 | Morocco |
6-1 |  Benin |
Friendly |
| 11 October 2013 | Morocco |
1-1 |  South Africa |
Friendly |
CAF
editThe Confederation of African Football (CAF) hosts matches in Agadir's Adrar stadium. The most recent tournament in Agadir was the 2018 African Nations Championship, a competition for men's football in Africa. The country is hosting the African Football Cup of Nations in 2025 for the first time in over 36 years since the 1988 African Cup of Nations. The Adrar stadium will again be a venue for some of the matches involving the 24 African teams as one of the neutral venues in Morocco.[26][3] Also, Morocco hosted the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, however, the Adrar stadium was not used for the competition, instead Rabat and Casablanca were chosen as host cities.[27]
2018 African Nations Cup
editResults of the football matches played in Agadir for the 2018 African Nations Cup men's tournament:[28][29][30]
| Date | Local time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 January 2018 | 19:30 | Equatorial Guinea |
1-3 |  Nigeria |
Group C |
| 16 January 2018 | 16:30 | Angola |
0-0 |  Burkina Faso |
Group D |
| 16 January 2018 | 19:30 |  Cameroon |
0-1 | Congo |
Group D |
| 20 January 2018 | 16:30 | Angola |
1-0 | Cameroon |
Group D |
| 20 January 2018 | 19:30 | Congo |
2-0 | Burkina Faso |
Group D |
| 24 January 2018 | 19:00 | Congo |
0-0 | Angola |
Group D |
| 28 January 2018 | 19:30 | Congo |
1(3)-1(5) | Libya |
Quarter-finals |
FIFA
editThe Adrar stadium has played host to numerous FIFA international football games on club and country levels. There has been the FIFA Club World Cup tournament held in the city, and there's another bid for Agadir to again become a host venue for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Also, the venue will be a destination for co-hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2030, with Morocco becoming the second country in Africa to host the tournament after South Africa.[9][13][31]
2013 FIFA Club World Cup
edit
Morocco was the destination for the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup as a replacement to the tournament being held in Japan for the then yearly continental competition. The reason for a change in the host country was because of the Japanese 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which affected the country's infrastructure. The Moroccan bid was chosen as the first Club World Cup in Africa for 2013, with Agadir playing host to 4 games in the tournament. Then, in the following year, Morocco once again hosted the 2014 edition of the CWC, although Adrar was not chosen as a venue for any matches for the tournament's second edition in Morocco.[32][33] Once again, Morocco was chosen as the host country for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup. However, Agadir was not chosen as a tournament venue, instead Rabat and Tangier were chosen for the matches of the tournament. The hosting of the tournaments in Morocco gave an incentive in 2022 for the government to expand its high-speed railway, Al Boraq, to finally connect Agadir to other cities.[34][35]
| Date | Local time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 December 2013[36] | 19:30 | Raja Casablanca |
2–1 |  Auckland City |
Play-off for QF | 34,875 |
| 14 December 2013[37] | 16:00 |  Guangzhou Evergrande |
2-0 |  Al Ahly |
Quarter-finals | 34,579 |
| 14 December 2013[38] | 19:30 | Raja Casablanca |
2-1 a.e.t. |  Monterrey |
Quarter-finals | 34,579 |
| 14 December 2013[39] | 19:30 | Guangzhou Evergrande |
0-3 |  Bayern Munich |
Semi-finals | 27,311 |
2030 FIFA World Cup
editIn attempting to host the FIFA World Cup, Morocco had shown plenty of initiative with the failed Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid, with the Adrar stadium being instrumental in the application. However, USA-Canada-Mexico were instead chosen as co-hosts.[34][40] Then, the Morocco–Portugal–Spain 2030 FIFA World Cup bid was chosen for the following World Cup four years later, with the Adrar stadium being scheduled to be used as part of Morocco's joint bid, along with Spain and Portugal, and also Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay who will host the opening games of the World Cup in recognition of the centenary anniversary of the FIFA World Cup after its inauguration for the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay, Latin America.[15][41]
References
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- ^ a b "Stade Agadir" [Agadir Stadium 45,000 seats]. sadbenkirane.com (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Grand Stade d'Agadir; where the Atlas Mountains blend with sports facility". sportsvillagesquare.com. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Grand Stade Adrar Agadir". stadiumguide.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ AI (13 October 2013). "Saad Lemti, premier buteur du grand stade d'Agadir" (in French). Le Matin. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Stade Al Inbiaate". footballgroundmap.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Design Grand Stade d'Agadir". stadiumdb. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Grand Stade d'Agadir". stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Agadir Stadium". fifa.com. FIFA. 21 September 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco details stadium investment plan for World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations". thestadiumbusiness.com. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco to build and upgrade stadiums before 2030 World Cup". constructionbriefing.com. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco 2030 World Cup stadiums: New grounds to be built?". footballgroundguide.com. 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Morocco to build new stadium, upgrade six others before 2030 World Cup". reuters.com. Reuters. 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Morocco Plans to Renovate Six Stadiums For 2030 World Cup Matches". moroccoworldnews.com. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ a b "When and where is next AFCON? Confirmed dates, year, host cities, stadiums for Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco". sportingnews.com. 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Morocco-Hassania Union Sport D'Agadir". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "TAS Casablanca Wins First Ever Title in Historic Throne Cup Final". moroccoworldnews.com. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Hassania v. Zamalek". 7 April 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "African Confederation Cup: RS Berkane beat Hassania Agadir to reach final". bbc.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Moroccan football matches to be played without fans". bbc.com. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Stade Adrar". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "CAF acknowledges Morocco's refusal to host ORANGE AFCON 2015 from January 17 to February 8". CAF. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "2015 Nations Cup: Equatorial Guinea to host tournament". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "بادو الزاكي ينوه بالجمهور السوسي" [Badou Zaki praises the Soussi audience]. anfaspress.com (in Arabic). 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "الزاكي مصر على اختيار أدرار لملاقاة الرأس الأخضر" [Zaki insists on choosing Adrar to face Cape Verde]. m.le360.ma (in Arabic). 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco readies for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON return after 36-year hiatus". cafonline.com. 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Women's African Cup of Nations 2022: Morocco women's football team await historic final in tournament of firsts". newarab.com. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "African Nations Cup, Group C". national-football-teams.com. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "African Nations Cup, Group D". national-football-teams.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "African Nations Cup, Quarter Finals". national-football-teams.com. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco Plans to Host 2029 FIFA Club World Cup". moroccoworldnews.com. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Match Schedule – FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco to host 2013-2014 Club World Cup". moroccotomorrow. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Club World Cup: Hosts Morocco seek to impress Fifa after heroics in Qatar". middleeasteye.com. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Morocco's High-Speed Train Trial Run Finishes in Marrakech". Morocco World News. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "QF Playoff match". fifa.com. 11 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
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- ^ "QF Match". fifa.com. 14 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
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- ^ "Canada, Mexico and USA selected as hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup". inside.fifa.com. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
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