The Grand Stade Adrar in Agadir is preparing to host eight AFCON matches starting December 22

Agadir will benefit from the immense global impact of the two major football competitions that the Kingdom will host. Its Grand Stade Adrar will host not only eight matches of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), starting on December 22, 2025 and in January 2026, but also, in five years, matches of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The stadium and its surroundings are currently undergoing renovations (our image) to host the first of these competitions and position Agadir as a lasting sporting capital.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from 21 December to 18 January 2026, meaning that, for the first time, it will be held during the Christmas and New Year period. It is expected to break all records. It is now the most watched sporting event in Africa, reaching a television audience of 1.5 billion people and 2.4 billion digital streams.

In Agadir, starting on 22 December, the 45,500 spectators who will pack into the Grand Stade Adrar will witness eight exciting clashes between some of Africa's best teams, including Egypt, Cameroon and South Africa. Six of these matches will determine the top two teams in Group B and the top two in Group F, who will qualify for the round of 16. On 5 January, the Grand Stade Adrar will host one of these round of 16 matches, and five days later, one of the quarter-finals.

Here is the schedule for these eight matches:

Monday, 22 December, 6 p.m.	Egypt-Zimbabwe	Group B
Thursday, 24 December, 8:30 p.m.	Cameroon-Gabon	Group F
Friday, 26 December, 6 p.m.	Egypt-South Africa	Group B
Sunday, 28 December	Gabon-Mozambique	Group F
Monday, 29 December	Angola-Egypt	Group B
Wednesday, 31 December, 8:30 p.m.	Mozambique-Cameroon	Group F
Monday, 5 January, 6 p.m.	Round of 16
Saturday, 10 January, 6 p.m.	Quarter-final

The final will take place on 18 January in Rabat. All of Morocco is hoping that the Atlas Lions, who finished fourth in the last World Cup, will fight for the title!

Renovation work on the Grand Stade Adrar began in September 2024. The aim is to turn it into a sports and leisure hub connected to the city (see photo). Inside the stadium, the following work is either underway or has already been completed: renovation of the pitch, extension of the stands, modernisation of the VIP and press boxes, and improvements to the changing rooms and spectator entry flow.

Outside, a large covered hall, a paddle court (see photo), training grounds, car parks and green areas with street furniture and flower beds are being created on land that was recently vacant.

In a second phase, which will begin after the AFCON, and in order to meet FIFA requirements, the Grand Stade Adrar will be equipped with a new roof (see image) to completely cover the stands. The athletics track will be removed, which will increase capacity and bring the public closer to the pitch.

At the same time, Agadir continues to undergo spectacular transformation and beautification in every direction.