Morocco will play their March friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay in Madrid and Lens as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirmed on Wednesday that the Atlas Lions will face Ecuador on 27 March before meeting Paraguay on 31 March.
Both fixtures form part of the team’s build-up to the World Cup, which runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to the federation, the two opponents were selected for their South American style, seen as comparable to Brazil — Morocco’s first opponent at the tournament on 13 June in New York.
The friendlies are designed to help the reigning African runners-up fine-tune their preparations against teams with similar tactical profiles.
The match against Ecuador will be staged at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, home of Atlético Madrid.
The second fixture, against Paraguay, will take place at the Bollaert-Delelis Stadium in Lens, France.
Initial plans had considered hosting one of the matches in the Paris region. However, organisers did not obtain approval from the Île-de-France prefecture, leading to the decision to move the fixture to Lens instead.
The confirmation of venues brings clarity to Morocco’s schedule as they intensify preparations for the expanded World Cup.
Facing two South American sides in quick succession offers an opportunity to test tactical adjustments and squad depth ahead of the global tournament.
With Brazil awaiting in their opening World Cup match, the Atlas Lions are seeking competitive opposition capable of replicating similar intensity and technical quality.
The selection of Ecuador and Paraguay underlines that strategic approach.
The announcement also highlights Morocco’s intention to use European venues with strong infrastructure and sizeable diaspora support as they build momentum towards 2026.
مباراتان وديتان للمنتخب الوطني خلال شهر مارس المقبل أمام كل من الإكوادور والباراغواي، استعدادًا لنهائيات كأس العالم
Two friendly games for our National Team this March against Ecuador and Paraguay as part of the preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/4XFQVwzD0Z
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) February 11, 2026
