Morocco vs El Salvador friendly under threat amid venue dispute

The proposed international friendly between Morocco and El Salvador is now hanging in the balance following a late request to change the match venue.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has formally suggested moving the June fixture from Washington, D.C. to Rabat. The game was initially scheduled for June 3 in the United States as part of Morocco’s build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

In correspondence sent to the Salvadoran federation, Moroccan officials pointed to a congested football calendar as the main reason behind the proposed change.

Ongoing continental club competitions in Europe and Asia are clashing with the FIFA international window, while domestic league schedules in both Morocco and Saudi Arabia have also been adjusted.

Injuries to key players have further complicated matters, raising concerns about Morocco’s ability to assemble a competitive squad for the match if it is played in the United States.

The federation stressed that fielding a weakened side would defeat the purpose of the friendly, which is intended to fine-tune preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the challenges, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to playing the fixture and on June 2 in Rabat as an alternative date and venue. The federation also offered to cover all travel and accommodation expenses for the Salvadoran delegation, emphasising its desire to preserve strong relations between both nations.

However, the proposal has been firmly rejected. Yamil Bukele, president of the Salvadoran federation, confirmed receipt of the request but stated that accepting it would not be feasible.

Bukele explained that FIFA regulations prevent national teams from playing matches across different continents within the same international window. He noted that El Salvador already has two fixtures lined up in the Americas during that period, making travel to Africa impractical.

While expressing appreciation for Morocco’s professionalism and willingness to host, he maintained that both logistical and regulatory constraints make the proposed change unworkable.

The standoff leaves the future of the friendly uncertain. With Morocco struggling to guarantee a full squad in the United States and El Salvador unable to travel to Rabat, cancellation now appears a real possibility.

The Moroccan federation has since issued an apology for the disruption and signalled its openness to further discussions, though time is quickly running out ahead of the June window.

As it stands, Morocco’s World Cup preparations remain affected by scheduling difficulties. The Atlas Lions are still expected to face Norway national football team on June 7, but the uncertainty surrounding the El Salvador fixture highlights the growing challenges of organising friendlies in an increasingly crowded global calendar.