Morocco vs El Salvador friendly canceled; El Salvador to face Qatar in Los Angeles
Morocco vs El Salvador friendly canceled; El Salvador will meet Qatar in Los Angeles on June 6. Morocco cited squad, scheduling conflicts and logistics.
The scheduled Morocco vs El Salvador friendly in the June international window has been canceled, with El Salvador confirming a replacement fixture against Qatar in Los Angeles on June 6. El Salvador’s federation president, Yamil Bukele, said he received an official message from the Moroccan federation notifying them that Morocco could not travel to the United States as planned. Bukele added that the Qatar match will proceed in place of the Morocco fixture and that a second friendly for El Salvador during the window will be announced shortly.
El Salvador to play Qatar in Los Angeles
El Salvador confirmed the replacement game against Qatar for June 6 in Los Angeles, a move announced by federation president Yamil Bukele after receiving Morocco’s formal notification. Bukele also indicated the match will not be televised, citing a decision by the authorities overseeing the Qatari team. The federation says it will shortly disclose the opposition for its second scheduled friendly in the same international window.
Morocco cites squad shortages and scheduling conflicts
In its correspondence, the Moroccan federation explained that a combination of factors made travel to the United States impractical in the days before the World Cup window. The letter pointed to the timing of continental club competition finals in Asia and Europe starting from May 25, changes to domestic calendars in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, and injuries to key players. Those conditions, the federation wrote, left Morocco unable to call what it described as at least one-third of the players expected to be on its final FIFA list.
Morocco offered a home date in Rabat
Morocco proposed rescheduling the fixture to June 2 in Rabat and offered to cover all travel costs for the El Salvador delegation as an alternative to traveling to the United States. That offer reflected an attempt to preserve the planned friendly while reducing the logistical strain on the Moroccan squad. Despite the gesture, the Salvadoran federation said it was unable to accept the proposal because it conflicted with broader regulatory and scheduling restrictions.
El Salvador declines due to FIFA rules and logistics
El Salvador’s federation expressed appreciation for Morocco’s offer but said FIFA rules prevent teams from playing matches on two different continents during the same international window. Officials also noted that the national team had a pre-agreed technical program that required two friendly matches in the same window, complicating any late relocation. Those regulatory and operational constraints led the federation to confirm the Qatar fixture instead and to continue seeking an appropriate second opponent.
Television blackout announced for Los Angeles friendly
Bukele stated that the June 6 match against Qatar will not be broadcast, attributing the television blackout to the decision of those responsible for the Qatari team’s organization. The lack of broadcast coverage reduces the match’s exposure but does not alter its role in match preparation for El Salvador. Organizers and federations typically balance broadcast arrangements with commercial, logistical and preparation priorities during tightly scheduled international windows.
World Cup groups and warm-up calendars
The changes come as both Morocco and Qatar prepare for FIFA World Cup 2026, with Qatar having secured qualification through the Asian qualifying process and Morocco drawn in a separate group following its deep run in 2022. Qatar is set to face Ireland in a warm-up friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on May 28, while Morocco will head into the tournament grouped with high-profile opponents after reaching the 2022 semi-finals. National team schedulers across continents are contending with congested club calendars and continental finals that complicate preparation plans ahead of the global tournament.
El Salvador has confirmed its intent to play two friendlies during the June window and is working to finalize the remaining opponent, while Morocco and other national teams continue to adapt plans as club commitments and player availability shift in the weeks before the World Cup.