Morocco’s national team coach Mohamed Wahbi. EPA/JALAL MORCHIDI
Thursday Apr 23, 2026. 11:00
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has had to cancel the June 3 friendly against El Salvador because they could not assemble a full squad during the FIFA international window.
The main reasons included players still involved in the final stages of European and Asian club competitions, recent changes to the domestic league calendar, and several injuries in the national team.
As an alternative, the FRMF proposed moving the match to June 2 in Rabat, Morocco, and covering all travel and accommodation costs for El Salvador, but the offer was rejected; this has now left a gap in Morocco’s 2026 World Cup preparations, with the Atlas Lions urgently seeking a replacement opponent ahead of their confirmed game against Norway on June 7.
“We received an official letter from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation informing us that, for the match against El Salvador scheduled for June 3 in Maryland, USA, they would not be able to count on their full squad from May 29th as they had planned,” FRMF communicated its position via an official letter dated April 21, 2026, sent directly to the Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT).
“This is due to several key players still being involved in the final stages of European and Asian club competitions, recent changes to the domestic calendar, and injuries within the squad, which would leave the Atlas Lions missing at least a third of the expected team during the FIFA international window.
“As an alternative, we propose moving the match to June 2 in Rabat, Morocco (at Moulay Abdellah Stadium), and the FRMF is ready to cover all travel and accommodation costs for the Salvadoran delegation.”