As the train approaches Casablanca, the monumental construction site of the Grand Stade Hassan-II in Benslimane emerges against the horizon. Upon completion, this colossal structure is set to become the largest football stadium in the world, boasting a seating capacity of 115,000. Morocco is banking on this impressive venue to sway FIFA into hosting the 2030 World Cup final here, a pivotal event it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
This construction effort is a cornerstone of a broader initiative aimed at revamping and enhancing infrastructure across Morocco's major cities, all in preparation for this international sporting event. According to estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), these public expenditures could surpass €17 billion between 2024 and 2030, representing approximately 12% of the nation’s GDP in 2024.
Accelerated Development in Casablanca-Settat
The Casablanca-Settat region has notably benefited from this accelerated development, particularly in the transportation sector. The high-speed rail line connecting Tangier to Casablanca is slated for expansion to Kenitra and Marrakech by 2029. Additionally, a future suburban train system, also planned for 2029, alongside a new high-quality bus network set to launch in 2024, aims to enhance connectivity between the metropolis and its surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs.
Karim Rouissi, president of Casamémoire—an association dedicated to heritage conservation—notes that for a well-planned city like Casablanca, this event has yielded positive outcomes by bringing long-stalled projects to fruition, which are beneficial to local residents. Political parties campaigning for the legislative elections in Morocco, scheduled for this Wednesday, are leveraging this momentum to bolster economic growth and create job opportunities. Two parties within the outgoing coalition, the RNI and PAM, project an average growth rate of 5% until 2031. The IMF, however, adopts a more cautious outlook, predicting an average growth rate of 4.3% during this period, contingent on a sustained recovery in agricultural activity following seven years of drought.
Development Disparities Persist
Despite these significant investments, pre-existing development disparities among regions continue to persist. Out of the twelve regions in the kingdom, only three—Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, and Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma—accounted for nearly 60% of the GDP in 2024, as per data from the High Commission for Planning, highlighting the concentration of industrial, logistical, and service activities in these areas.
Behind the façade of modernity and promises of growth, stark imbalances endure, particularly between urban and rural areas. The isolation and lack of public service development in certain regions have led to significant social inequalities. Nationwide, while the multidimensional poverty rate decreased from 12% in 2014 to 7% in 2024, this poverty remains concentrated at nearly 72% in rural environments, as reported by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council of Morocco.
Moreover, the regions set to host the World Cup are not devoid of contrasts. In Agadir, the suspicious deaths of eight women who underwent cesarean sections in a public hospital within a week had sparked protests in several cities in September 2025, igniting the "Gen Z 212" movement that condemned the deficiencies in healthcare and education infrastructure. Persistent challenges in these sectors include shortages of medical personnel, poor learning outcomes, regional disparities, and outdated facilities, as noted by the IMF earlier this year. The Moroccan government is currently implementing ambitious reforms aimed at enhancing the capacity and quality of services in these vital areas, which also need to be expedited.
As reported by lesechos.fr.
