Overview
Stade Mohammed V is the most storied football ground in Morocco. Situated in the heart of Casablanca, it has served as the home of both Wydad Athletic Club and Raja Club Athletic since its inauguration in 1955 — making it the arena where the city's legendary rivalry, known as the Casablanca derby or Derby du Grand Casablanca, has played out across generations.
Named in honour of King Mohammed V, the founding father of modern Morocco, the stadium carries immense symbolic weight beyond its sporting role. It stands as a monument to national identity as much as to the beautiful game.
History
The stadium opened during the final years of the French Protectorate, and its early years coincided with Moroccan independence in 1956. Through the late 1950s and 1960s it quickly became the premier venue in North Africa, hosting international matches, CAF competitions, and heavyweight club fixtures that drew capacity crowds.
Over the following decades the ground underwent several renovation cycles to meet changing safety and comfort standards, with significant work carried out ahead of Morocco's hosting of the 1988 African Cup of Nations and again in the 2000s. Despite its age, the stadium retains an electric atmosphere on derby day that few newer grounds can match.
The Casablanca Derby
Few rivalries in African football carry as much passion as the Wydad–Raja derby. Both clubs were founded in Casablanca and both call Stade Mohammed V home, creating an unusual and charged dynamic. On derby weekends the stadium splits almost perfectly between the green-and-white of Raja and the red-and-white of Wydad, with each set of supporters determined to outdo the other in noise and display.
- Wydad AC — founded 1937, multiple CAF Champions League titles
- Raja CA — founded 1949, CAF Champions League and Club World Cup participant
- Derby clashes regularly draw sell-out crowds and national television audiences
- Considered one of the fiercest local rivalries on the African continent
Continental & International Highlights
Beyond club football, Stade Mohammed V has hosted some of the most significant matches in Moroccan and African football history. The stadium served as a key venue during the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco hosted in its entirety, and has been a regular home for the Moroccan national team when fixtures are staged in Casablanca.
Wydad AC's victories in the CAF Champions League — most recently in 2022 — were celebrated here, as were Raja CA's continental triumphs in the 1990s. The ground has also hosted exhibition matches against European giants, bringing international stars to Casablanca for one-off events that become part of local football lore.
Renovation & Future
With the arrival of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, serious questions arose about Stade Mohammed V's long-term role. Ultimately the decision was taken to proceed with the new Grand Stade Hassan II rather than attempt to expand the historic ground beyond its architectural limits. However, Stade Mohammed V is expected to continue operating as the primary league venue for Wydad and Raja, preserving its central role in the Casablanca football ecosystem for years to come.
Renovation plans focus on modernising concourse facilities, improving accessibility, and upgrading floodlighting and broadcast infrastructure, while leaving the distinctive bowl character of the original design intact.