What is confirmed
FIFA awarded the 2030 edition to the joint Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid. On the Moroccan side, six cities will host matches: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fez, Agadir and Marrakech. Three opening matches will be played in South America, marking the centenary of the first World Cup in 1930.
The Grand Stade de Marrakech, at the entrance to the city, is being renovated and enlarged. Announced capacities have varied between sources and stages of the bid — better to wait for FIFA’s final figures than to trust the estimates in circulation.
Verified figures
- Hosting
- The 2030 World Cup is co-hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Three centenary matches take place in South America.
- Moroccan host cities
- Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fez, Agadir and Marrakech — six of the twenty European and African stadiums in the bid.
- Marrakech stadium
- Being renovated and enlarged. Announced capacities vary between versions of the bid: wait for FIFA’s final figures.
- Timing
- Summer 2030 — the hottest period in Marrakech.
- Precedent
- The Africa Cup of Nations was held in Morocco in late 2025 and early 2026.
- Ticketing
- Not open at the date of this page.
Figures checked in August 2026 (Unesco, climate data from the Menara station, public geographic sources). Where sources disagree, we give a range rather than a single number.
What the country is building in the meantime
Morocco has committed to a substantial infrastructure programme: stadiums, roads, rail links and airports. The hotel sector is targeting tens of thousands of additional beds, and the national tourism target has been raised well above current levels.
In practice, for a traveller: more capacity, but also more people, and a city with building sites here and there until 2030. Marrakech went through this before COP22 and handled it well — but the works are part of the scenery for a few years.
Book what this article mentions
Why come before 2030, without overselling it
The line "come before it all changes" has become a tourism marketing cliché. Let us be measured: Marrakech will not lose its character in four years, and the Agafay desert and the Ourika valley will not change.
What will change is prices and availability. Hotel rates are already rising in the host cities, and 2030 will put extreme pressure on accommodation. If you are choosing between coming now and coming in 2029, this year is cheaper and quieter.
If you are aiming for the tournament itself
The competition will be played in the summer of 2030 — Marrakech’s hottest months. Plan for it: air-conditioned accommodation, outings early or late in the day.
Accommodation will be the pinch point. Medina riads have few rooms each and sell out far ahead for events like this. We follow the subject and will update this page as official announcements come.
Frequently asked questions
Will Marrakech host matches?
Yes, Marrakech is one of the six Moroccan host cities named in the bid accepted by FIFA.
Can I already book tickets or hotels for 2030?
FIFA ticketing is not open at this stage, and we take no bookings for those dates. Be wary of any offer claiming otherwise.
Has Morocco hosted major events before?
Yes — the Africa Cup of Nations was held there in late 2025 and early 2026, and the country regularly stages international competitions. The infrastructure is being tested well before 2030.
Page updated in August 2026. Information on stadiums and capacities is evolving: we correct it as official announcements are made.