Morocco: Mohammed V Stadium to undergo temporary closure for turf maintenance, says City Council

The Mohammed V Complex in Casablanca will be temporarily closed for essential turf maintenance, according to Karim Glaibi, a member of the Casablanca City Council and the stadium’s monitoring committee.

Glaibi explained that the decision was made to ensure the stadium continues to meet international standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.

The closure of the Mohammed V Complex will be temporary in order to carry out essential maintenance work on the pitch. This operation is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the best possible conditions in national stadiums, he said in a statement to Le Site Info Sport.

He clarified that the turf renewal forms part of an annual cycle designed to maintain optimal playing conditions.

This closure meets the requirements of the CAF and FIFA specifications. Indeed, the pitch must have two types of grass: Ray Grass, which thrives in cold climates, and Bermuda, which is suitable for high temperatures. The use of Bermuda grass has been extended to the maximum, and it is now time to switch to Ray Grass, which is better suited to this time of year, Glaibi added.

The seasonal transition between the two grass types, he explained, is necessary to ensure the field remains playable and compliant throughout the year.

Raygrass takes about six weeks to grow, which is completely normal and will happen every year. This is the ideal time to make this transition, given the upcoming international break, the Arab Cup scheduled for early November, and the African Cup of Nations scheduled for December, he continued.

The maintenance process, overseen by Sonarges — the national company responsible for managing Morocco’s major stadiums — has already begun in other venues across the country.

The Mohammed V Complex is the last of these facilities to undergo the operation.

I would like to point out that the Mohammed V Complex is the last stadium to benefit from this maintenance operation, the Sonarges company having already started this work in all the national stadiums it manages. I also confirm that the Larbi Zaouli stadium will remain open to Casablanca clubs until the Mohammed V Complex reopens, Glaibi concluded.

The temporary closure aims to preserve the stadium’s status as one of Africa’s premier football venues, ensuring it remains in top condition for both domestic and international competitions in the months ahead.