Casablanca: Casa Region Sport Takes Over from Sonarges

Major Changes Loom for Sports Infrastructure Management in Casablanca

The management of large sports infrastructures in Casablanca is poised for a significant overhaul. The municipality has initiated the process to terminate its agreements with the National Company for the Realization and Management of Sports Facilities (Sonarges), in favor of the Casa Région Sport company. A comprehensive financial and accounting audit is also planned to review the relevant contracts and enhance transparency in the management of public funds.

The announcement was made on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by Houcine Nasrollah, vice president of the Casablanca city council and a member of the joint committee overseeing these agreements.

Casablanca Municipality Moves to Terminate Agreements

This decision follows several meetings of the joint committee, during which it was reported that Sonarges had violated its contractual obligations. Based on these findings, the committee recommended moving forward with the termination process of the agreements binding Sonarges to the municipality.

The process aims to reassess the management conditions of the affected facilities and clarify the responsibilities of the various stakeholders. The committee also suggested involving a specialized firm for the financial and accounting audit to thoroughly analyze the agreements and their financial implications.

According to Houcine Nasrollah, this approach seeks to enhance accountability, transparency, and the protection of public funds. The audit is intended to provide clearer insights into the fulfillment of contractual commitments.

Mohammed V Complex, Larbi Zaouli, Al Amal: Affected Facilities

The management transition affects several key sports infrastructures in the metropolis, including the Mohammed V Sports Complex, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Al Amal Complex, and La Casablancaise. The plan also encompasses efforts related to the Casablanca Municipal Club and the management of other sports facilities under the municipality’s jurisdiction.

The proposed agreements, currently under review by the city council, include delegating rehabilitation, management, operation, and maintenance tasks of these infrastructures to Casa Région Sport.

For some facilities, the anticipated agreements also include preparation for calls for expressions of interest, aimed at determining the methods for rehabilitation and operation. The goal is to structure the new organization around a regional operator responsible for coordinating the management of the involved installations.

Financial Audit to Illuminate Agreements

Beyond the operator change, the examination of these agreements is a central issue for the municipality. The joint committee wants an accounting and financial audit firm to conduct a thorough analysis of the contractual commitments and their financial consequences.

The case of the Mohammed V Complex is particularly sensitive. An agreement had allocated 250 million dirhams for the rehabilitation of the complex and its facilities, along with a ten-year management period entrusted to Sonarges.

Questions regarding the actual amounts disbursed, the progress of the work, and the use of the funds will need to be investigated in the announced reviews. The results of the audit could help clarify the contractual and financial status of the affected facilities.

The committee has also recommended strengthening governance mechanisms by differentiating the oversight and monitoring functions of the agreements. It proposed increasing the city council’s representation on the joint committee from three to five members. This proposal was unanimously adopted by the committee, which will continue its work until new members are appointed.

Casa Région Sport Expected to Diversify Stadium Revenue

The transition to Casa Région Sport is not limited to the day-to-day management of the facilities. The new company is also expected to enhance the qualified human resources engaged in operating the infrastructures and develop new revenue sources.

The committee emphasized the need to better leverage the Mohammed V Complex to decrease its reliance on revenue generated from matches involving Raja of Casablanca and Wydad of Casablanca.

Revenue diversification, improvement of commercial exploitation, and bolstering maintenance are among the challenges facing this new organization. Additionally, the agreements will need to be reformulated in accordance with current laws and regulations.

To this end, the municipality also plans to assign Casa Région Sport a mission to study the status of the sports and cultural infrastructures within its jurisdiction, as well as to create a roadmap for their management.

A New Organization on the Horizon for the 2030 World Cup

The establishment of Casa Région Sport aligns with the strategy to reorganize the management of major sports infrastructures in Morocco as the 2030 World Cup approaches. The company was founded in December 2025, with official approval granted by decree in January 2026.

With a capital of 20 million dirhams, it aims to ensure the management, operation, maintenance, and enhancement of the relevant sports infrastructures in the Casablanca-Settat region.

In Casablanca, the gradual transfer of responsibilities from Sonarges to Casa Région Sport is expected to clarify the roles of operators and enhance coordination among the public institutions involved.

Thus, the issue transcends a simple change of management. It also involves ensuring better usage of the facilities, consolidating their maintenance, and guaranteeing a more transparent management of public investments, as Moroccan sports infrastructures prepare to meet the demands of major international events.

However, the effective realization of this transition will depend on successfully concluding the termination procedures and finalizing new management agreements.