The planned international friendly between Morocco national football team and El Salvador national football team has been called off, with differing accounts emerging over the reasons behind the decision.
The match had originally been scheduled for 3 June at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, in the United States. However, the fixture was cancelled following a series of developments involving both football federations.
Officials from El Salvador, through their federation led by Yamil Bukele, initially suggested that the cancellation was linked to FIFA regulations, claiming restrictions prevented the game from taking place as planned.
However, information from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation indicates a different sequence of events. Morocco reportedly informed their counterparts that they would be unable to field a full-strength squad for the match due to player availability issues on the scheduled date.
As a result, the Moroccan federation proposed moving the fixture to Morocco instead, offering to cover travel and accommodation costs for the El Salvador team. That proposal was rejected by the Salvadoran Football Federation, who argued that FIFA rules do not permit matches to be played across different continents within the same international window.
Further reports suggest that financial considerations may have played a role in the final decision. According to insider accounts, El Salvador opted to pursue a more lucrative opportunity, choosing instead to arrange a fixture against Qatar on 6 June.
The cancellation has led Morocco to adjust their preparation schedule ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Atlas Lions are now set to face Madagascar national football team on 2 June in Marrakech, following an earlier friendly against Burundi national football team on 26 May in Rabat.
In addition, Morocco are scheduled to take on Norway national football team in New York on 7 June, as part of their final preparations for the tournament.
Attention will then turn to the World Cup itself, where Morocco are due to face Brazil national football team in their opening Group C match in New York on the night of 12–13 June.
While the exact circumstances surrounding the cancelled friendly remain contested, the developments highlight the complexities of organising international fixtures, particularly when scheduling, player availability and financial factors intersect.
