Mohammed V Stadium: The Enigmatic Trigger Behind Casablanca’s Derby Disruption

The Closure That Shakes Casablanca's Derby

An official decision to close Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca from next week has triggered an emergency scramble within the camps of Wydad and Raja, described as shocking, especially at a sensitive moment of the season, just before the highly anticipated derby—the centerpiece of Moroccan football.

The closure was agreed in a joint effort between Casablanca authorities and the company responsible for stadium maintenance, as part of a broader plan to renovate several Moroccan venues ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. Yet it revives the long-standing debate about the stadium's 'enigma', which has consumed large budgets without visible improvements.

Timing raises suspicion and anger

The scheduling has aroused suspicion and anger, as the stadium will be shut at the start of the coming week and remain closed until December 1, when it is handed over to CAF to meet AFCON venue requirements.

According to KOOORA, the clubs received an official notice to close the stadium at the start of next week, with the closure extending until December 1, in a bid to fulfill the competition’s infrastructure standards.

The justification cites turf renewal and some structural maintenance, especially as weather fluctuations demand urgent intervention to preserve ground quality.

But the clubs fear the timing is catastrophic because it comes just days before the derby and threatens the teams’ mental state and fan support, especially since both started the season strongly—Wydad atop the Moroccan league for the first time in a while, with Raja close behind.

Emergency Response

The closure puts the two clubs in a real bind, especially after years of periods away from home due to repeated closures of the stadium.

A source told KOOORA that club officials will hold urgent meetings with city authorities to understand the reasons and timing, seeking alternatives before the decision takes effect.

Wydad faces an added headache as it prepares for the CAF Confederation Cup against Asante Kotoko of Ghana, making a home game with fans essential to avoid travel fatigue.

Fans have voiced their fury, with ultras threatening to boycott some league matches to protest what they call a disregard for the two economic giants of Casablanca, urging a transparent probe into how the stadium funds were spent.

Millions Spent… and the Question Remains

Mohammed V Stadium, long nicknamed the “legendary stadium,” has become a talking point in Moroccan football due to frequent closures for maintenance with no obvious end in sight.

Over the past five years, the venue has closed seven times, while renovations reportedly totaled tens of millions of dollars—figures critics say could have funded a brand-new venue, like several the capital Rabat now boasts after rapid development.

The stadium, which hosted Morocco’s national team and the country’s top clubs for decades, reopened recently after renewal that included new seats and allegedly top-tier turf. Yet the pitch deteriorated soon after, renewing doubts about the value of the upgrades.

Following the latest closure announcement, calls for a transparent audit of the project’s funding and procurement grow louder, as observers wonder why the same scenario recurs every couple of years.

Derby Without Spirit

One of the most tangible consequences is the loss of the derby’s atmosphere, with the match likely moved to Al Arabi Zaouli stadium, a change that strips the fixture of much of its symbolic and economic heft.

The Mohammed V closure undermines the derby’s status as the beating heart of Moroccan and Arab football, where red and green clash in a legendary display of passion.

Last season’s ultras-movement to boycott the derby underscored the fragile relationship between fans and the stadium’s repeated disruptions, foreshadowing another challenging week ahead.

No Quick Move to Rabat

Despite rumors of relocating matches to the capital Rabat during the closure, sources insist this option is not on the table now, as Rabat's own stadiums will be busy with AFCON-related work. Fans prefer staying in Casablanca, underscoring the city’s desire for dedicated sports infrastructure rather than frequent relocations.

Sources state that supporters believe their city deserves more consistent investment in sports facilities, given that Casablanca is a continental and regional football powerhouse.

In the end, the decision tests the resolve of Casablanca’s clubs, authorities, and fans alike as they navigate a season that promised drama and now faces a new type of obstacle—one printed on grass rather than chalk marks on a bulletin board.

Two punchlines to lighten the mood: 1) If stadium renovations were a sport, this would be the world championships—never-ending endurance, always with a new kit. 2) In Casablanca, the only thing that’s consistently on the pitch is the price tag, not the ball.