Morocco’s World Cup warm-up against El Salvador cancelled after scheduling dispute

Morocco’s planned friendly against El Salvador has been called off after a series of scheduling complications, disrupting preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

The match had initially been announced by the Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) as part of both teams’ build-up to the tournament.

It was due to take place on 3 June at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, in the United States.

However, confirmation from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) did not follow, leaving uncertainty over whether the fixture would proceed.

That uncertainty has now been resolved, with the match officially cancelled after both federations failed to reach an agreement.

According to FESFUT president Yamil Bukele, the Moroccan federation informed his organisation that it would not be able to field a full squad for the scheduled date.

In a statement shared publicly, he outlined the communication received from Morocco.

“We received an official letter from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation informing us that, for the match against El Salvador, (…) they would not be able to count on their full squad from May 29th, as they had planned.”

The FRMF attributed the issue to several factors affecting player availability.

These included uncertainty surrounding players involved in the final stages of European and Asian competitions, as well as adjustments to domestic calendars and injuries within the squad.

Faced with these constraints, the Moroccan federation proposed an alternative arrangement.

The match, they suggested, could be relocated to Morocco and brought forward to 2 June.

As part of the proposal, Morocco offered to cover the travel and accommodation costs for the El Salvador team.

Despite the revised plan, the proposal was not accepted by the Salvadoran federation.

Bukele explained that logistical and regulatory considerations prevented his team from agreeing to the change.

El Salvador are scheduled to face Qatar on 6 June in Los Angeles, and the existing programme could not accommodate travel between continents within the same international window.

“We thanked the Moroccan Federation for their tact, professionalism, and open-mindedness, while specifying that we would have been delighted to play this match, but that it is impossible for us to travel there because, in accordance with the provisions of the International Federation of Association Football, it is not possible to play on two different continents during the same FIFA date, and, in accordance with our schedule and program, we have planned to play two friendly matches during this period.”

The decision brings an end to a fixture that had appeared to be agreed in principle but ultimately proved unworkable.

The sequence of events highlights the challenges national teams face when coordinating schedules across different competitions and regions.

For Morocco, the cancellation leaves a gap in their preparation programme with the World Cup approaching.

The tournament is set to begin in less than 50 days, running from 11 June to 19 July, increasing the urgency to finalise arrangements.

The Atlas Lions had been using the June international window to fine-tune their squad and tactics.

The inability to stage the friendly against El Salvador means adjustments will now be required to ensure adequate preparation.

Attention is expected to turn to securing an alternative opponent.

Honduras has been mentioned as a possible option, although no confirmation has been made regarding a replacement fixture.

Morocco are still scheduled to play another friendly during the same period.

They will face Norway on 7 June at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, United States, in a match that remains part of their preparations.

The cancellation of the El Salvador match therefore alters, but does not entirely disrupt, Morocco’s build-up to the tournament.

The focus will now be on ensuring that the remaining fixtures provide sufficient preparation time.

For El Salvador, the decision allows them to maintain their existing schedule without logistical complications.

Their planned match against Qatar in Los Angeles remains unchanged.

The developments underline how external factors, including club commitments and international regulations, can influence national team planning.

Even when agreements appear close, such factors can lead to last-minute changes.

As both teams continue their preparations separately, the cancelled fixture stands as a reminder of the complexities involved in organising international friendlies during a crowded football calendar.