ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

Architects Cruz y Ortiz reveal stadium design for Morocco's 2026 World Cup bid

Spanish architecture firm Cruz y Ortiz have designed a 90,000-capacity football stadium as the centrepiece of Morocco’s bid for the 2026 World Cup.

The members of football’s world governing body, FIFA, meet tomorrow (13 June) in Moscow decide who will host the tournament in eight year’s time: Morocco or the US, Mexico and Canada.

If the former wins the vote, Cruz y Ortiz’s stadium will be constructed in Casablanca, and will host the opening match and the final of the World Cup.

In a design statement, the architects said: "The large capacity of spectators determines the circular shape of the perimeter. The circle is the geometry that maximizes the stands' surface area and ensures the spectator’s view of the field does not exceed 190 meters.

"The challenge of covering a stadium of these dimensions becomes an opportunity to make the roof the element that defines the image of the building. A large self-supporting roof of cables and tensioned membranes is proposed."

The practice have designed football grounds in China and Switzerland, but are best-known for their recently-completed Wanda Metropolitano for Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid. Rather than building a new stadium from scratch, they were tasked with renovating and expanding the Estadio Olímpico de Madrid – a small athletics venue built in 1994 – to create one of the most technologically-advanced stadiums in Europe.

Tomorrow’s vote is finely poised. The US president, Donald Trump, was criticised last month for effectively threatening to cut aid and other forms of support to countries which are prepared to support the Moroccan bid – which, in Trump's view, constitutes to opposing the joint North American bid.

His threats relating to the Moroccan bid haven’t gone down well with African member nations of FIFA – who could ultimately decide the winner of the bid for the 2026 tournament due to the number of votes they hold.

Trump's interference in the bid has also fallen foul of FIFA, which has – in response to the president's rhetoric – repeatedly referenced its bid rules, which prohibit "political activities" that can have "undue influence on the bidding process".

Meanwhile, the 2018 World Cup in Russia kicks off on Thursday (14 June) with the host nation taking on Saudi Arabia at the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which has reopened following development work.

Cruz y Ortiz  Morocco  2026 World Cup  FIFA  US  Mexico  Canada  
Spanish architecture firm Cruz y Ortiz have designed a 90,000-capacity football stadium as the centrepiece of Morocco’s bid for the 2026 World Cup. The members of football’s world governing body, FIFA, meet tomorrow (13 June) in Moscow decide who will host the tournament in eight year’s time: Morocco or the US, Mexico and Canada. If the former wins the vote, Cruz y Ortiz’s stadium will be constructed in Casablanca, and
CLD,SAR,ARC,DES
If the former wins the vote, Cruz y Ortiz’s stadium will be constructed in Casablanca, and will host the opening match and the final of the World Cup / Cruz y Ortiz
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7781     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7781     
 
 
 
company profile
Company profile: Global Project & Spa Advisory
We focus as much on profitability as we do on customer experience, in the definition of global wellness services. Daily wellness is a trend we support. We define personalised services, integrating health prevention and all experiences that enhance the sustainability of one’s wellbeing.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
Hirsch Bedner’s Delhi Summer House, one of three Vastu homes under construction
"Vastu can be dated back to at least the 6th century and is deeply rooted in the physical and spiritual fabric of Hindu society"

Chris Godfrey of global architecture practice Hirsch Bedner, on bringing a spiritual dimension to residential architecture in India

Mia Kyricos is senior vice president and global head of wellbeing for Hyatt Hotels Corporation
"We’re now smart enough to know that it’s the environments we choose to surround ourselves with that impact our health and wellness"

Home wellness is the future, says Hyatt’s global head of wellbeing

CLAD people: Hannah Beachler
"I fell in love with Zaha Hadid"

Black Panther set designer Hannah Beachler

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
The Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre opened in Japan in 2004
Toyo Ito was born in Seoul in 1941. He studied architecture at the University of Tokyo
"I have one dream with my work. Architecture should equal nature"

The Pritzker Prize-winner talks about inspiration, battling bureaucracy and the Tokyo National Olympic Stadium saga with Kim Megson

Steve and Marie Nygren
Steve and Marie Nygren
"The vision was to create a community that feels as though it’s always been there"

Eco community Serenbe was launched in the heart of the Giorgia countryside to provide an alternative to the traditional American suburb. As work starts on a new wellness hamlet, we speak to the founders

Claude Provencher
"A vast yet understated investment in cultural institutions and tourist infrastructure is taking place without lavish budgets, starchitects or international fanfare"

The amazing projects transforming Canada’s second city

features
Brian Yang
"You can be an intern on your first day and be expected to contribute to the design conversation. That’s something driven strongly by Bjarke."

How the idea of putting a ski slope on a factory roof was born

The Panda House features separate spaces for the male and female pandas
David Zahle
"I realised we’d created an environment where it was more about talent and trust than how much experience you had."

Designing the Panda House for Copenhagen Zoo

A luxurious vacation cottage on Norman’s Cay, the Bahamas
Chad Oppenheim
"You can’t insert the operational aspects as an afterthought, the whole project is a balance of performance and poetry"

From a youth centre for Pharrell Williams to a Six Senses resort, Miami architect Chad Oppenheim’s aim is to find the balance between fantasy and functionality

cladkit product news
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
cladkit product news
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo