Jul 7

Jul 7 "The Casablanca Derby" by Anthony Darin

The Casablanca derby is a clash between two of Africa’s soccer giants. The two most supported and most prestigious clubs in Morocco–Raja Casablanca and Wydad Casablanca–divide their shared stadium, city, and country into seas of green and red respectively. The battle that ensues on the field is often overshadowed by the fans’ competing displays of passion which grab global headlines for the intensity and intricacy of their choreography. It is my hope that this photo essay can encapsulate even the slightest bit of that passion which turned a 0-0 game into the best I’ve ever attended.

Friends stand in matching black t-shirts behind a large sign that has a heart and then says "RAJA" in large letters — The first step of attending the Casablanca derby is choosing your allegiance. After a long day of listening to chants, learning about the clubs’ histories, and asking our Moroccan friends who they support, our group went green. Before the game, my friend and I went to the official Raja store to buy scarves, and we took this picture to cement our status as Rajawi. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

A wide-angle shot of the football pitch inside the stadium — We arrived at Stade Mohammed V two hours before kick off to secure our seats (we were correctly told our “assigned” seats wouldn’t necessarily be respected). This picture was taken as soon as we arrived. Chants filled the stadium before the players even took the field to practice. The two hour wait turned into a two hour match in itself between Wydad’s Curva Nord and Raja’s Curva Sud. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

Inside a football stadium, one side has a large display saying "The Last Twins" that covers the people in the section — Introducing the first competitor, Wydad holds the record for the most Moroccan league championships with 22. Since being established in 1937, they have quickly evolved into the most supported club in Morocco by number of fans. This tifo (large-scale, choreographed display) reading “The Last Twins: Seeking to Be One, Soon to Be All Gone” references Wydad’s history as the first of the two clubs, and their desire to be the last one standing. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

From inside a football stadium packed with people, showing one supporter section — And their opponents…the green eagles of Raja. Established in 1949, the club has amassed 13 Moroccan league titles, and their Curva Sud ultras (organized supporter group) are famous worldwide for their fiery choreography and focus on humanitarian issues. This tifo was one of five that Raja fans choreographed for this game. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

Flares and smoke come from one supporter section at a football game — Tifos aren’t the only ways in which fans express their support. Flares and smoke bombs light up the ends of the field as the ultras roar in their sections behind the goals. Wydad’s ultras section *Curva Nord* (named as such because they sit at the north end of the stadium) filled the air with the sound of fireworks as they illuminated the stands with an intimidating red and black. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

The football pitch is covered in smoke from flares fans set — These displays often filled the field with smoke making it impossible for the players to see. The game had to be paused three times to allow the smoke to clear. Even with their vision obscured, chants from both sets of fans continued to echo through the stadium, undeterred by the haze that blanketed the field. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

Green, red, and black smoke comes from another end of the football pitch — Raja’s Curva Sud (who alternatively sit at the south end of the stadium) responded to Wydad’s pyro with flares and fireworks of their own. The green smoke collided with the black smoke of Wydad, wrestling for space over the field. The floodlights of Casablanca’s stadium witnessed more than just a soccer match that night–it was a battlefield. Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

A fire on a running track with a large circle of emergency responders watching on and a sky filled with smoke — It is important to note that the derby is not without its dangers. Raja fans through toilet paper onto the track below before igniting it with their flares. If you are to go to the Casablanca derby there are a few safety tips to consider:- Don’t sit with the ultras: They are intense and fights often break out.
Don’t wear red or green: Fights often occur outside of the stadium, so it is best to keep a low-profile and appear neutral.
Don’t leave with the crowd: Leave early or late to avoid stampedes.
Photo credit: Darin, 2025.

The Casablanca Derby is unlike any other sporting event in the world, and it was without a doubt the best experience I’ve had at a sporting event. While the Derby makes for an intimidating and sometimes dangerous atmosphere, it can be enjoyed safely if you are smart and conscious of your surroundings. The game we attended ended in a 0-0 tie, and many mocked the teams on social media for their poor performance. However, there was one thing everyone could agree on: the energy in Casablanca that night was unlike any other.

Anthony Darin is a student at American University and studied abroad in the Fall 2025 on Amideast’s Area & Arabic Language Studies program in Rabat, Morocco.