Casablanca: Casa Région Sport Replaces Sonarges
Management of Casablanca’s Major Sports Infrastructures Set for Major Change
The management of the major sports infrastructures in Casablanca is poised for a significant transformation. The city council has initiated the process to terminate its agreements with the National Company for the Realization and Management of Sports Facilities (Sonarges), in favor of Casa Région Sport. A financial and accounting audit is also planned to examine the relevant agreements and enhance transparency in the management of public funds.
The announcement was made on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by Houcine Nasrollah, the vice president of the Casablanca city council and a member of the joint committee responsible for monitoring these agreements.
Casablanca Municipality Initiates Termination of Agreements
This decision follows several meetings of the joint committee, during which breaches of contractual obligations by Sonarges were reportedly identified. Based on this, the committee recommended that the municipality proceed with the termination of agreements binding the national company to the city.
The process aims to re-evaluate the management conditions of the concerned infrastructures and clarify the responsibilities of the various stakeholders involved. The committee has also recommended engaging a specialized firm to conduct a thorough financial and accounting audit of the agreements and their financial aspects.
According to Houcine Nasrollah, this approach is intended to promote accountability, transparency, and protection of public funds. The audit is expected to provide clearer visibility on the fulfillment of contractual obligations.
Mohammed V Complex, Larbi Zaouli, Al Amal: The Affected Facilities
The management change 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 includes measures related to the municipal Casablanca Club and the management of other sports facilities under the city’s jurisdiction.
The proposed agreements for the city council’s review include delegating responsibilities for rehabilitation, management, operation, and maintenance of these infrastructures to Casa Région Sport.
For certain facilities, the anticipated agreements also involve preparing calls for expressions of interest to define the terms for rehabilitation and operation. The goal is to structure the new organization around a regional operator tasked with coordinating the management of the relevant installations.
A Financial Audit to Clarify the Agreements
Beyond the operator change, examining the agreements presents a central issue for the municipality. The joint committee desires that an accounting and financial audit firm conduct a comprehensive analysis of the contractual commitments and their financial implications.
The issue concerning the Mohammed V Complex is among the most sensitive. One agreement stipulated a budget of 250 million dirhams intended for the rehabilitation of the complex and its facilities, with a management period of ten years assigned to Sonarges.
Questions regarding the actual funds disbursed, the progress of the works, and the use of finances will need to be reviewed as part of the announced verifications. The audit results could help clarify the contractual and financial situation of the affected facilities.
The committee has also proposed strengthening governance mechanisms by distinguishing between the roles of oversight and monitoring of the agreements. It recommended increasing the number of city council representatives on the joint committee from three to five. This proposal was unanimously adopted by the committee, which will continue its work until the appointment of the new members.
Casa Région Sport Tasked with Diversifying Stadium Revenues
The transition to Casa Région Sport involves more than just the day-to-day management of facilities. The new company is also expected to enhance the recruitment of qualified human resources for the operation of the infrastructures and develop new sources of income.
The committee emphasized the need to better leverage the Mohammed V Complex to reduce its dependency on revenues generated from matches involving Raja Casablanca and Wydad Casablanca.
Revenue diversification, improved commercial operations, and enhanced maintenance are among the challenges facing this new organization. Furthermore, the agreements must be reformulated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
In this context, the municipality also plans to assign Casa Région Sport the task of studying the state of sports and cultural infrastructures under its control and developing a roadmap for their management.
A New Organization in Perspective for World Cup 2030
The establishment of Casa Région Sport is part of a strategy to reorganize the management of major sports infrastructures in Morocco in anticipation of the 2030 World Cup. The company was founded in December 2025, with its creation authorized by decree in January 2026.
With a share capital of 20 million dirhams, it aims to manage, operate, maintain, and enhance 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 the operators and strengthen coordination among the public institutions involved.
Therefore, the issue extends beyond a mere change of manager; it also involves ensuring better utilization of the facilities, reinforcing their maintenance, and guaranteeing a more transparent management of public investments as Moroccan sports infrastructures are set to meet the demands of major international events.
However, the effective implementation of this transition will depend on the completion of the termination processes and the finalization of the new management agreements.
