Morocco will continue their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face Madagascar in an international friendly at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday, June 2.
The encounter, scheduled for an 18:00 local time kick-off, forms part of the Atlas Lions‘ final build-up ahead of the tournament and offers head coach Mohammed Ouahbi another opportunity to assess his squad before competitive action begins.
The fixture was arranged after Morocco’s planned friendly against El Salvador was cancelled. According to reports from Lionsdelatlas, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation moved quickly to secure Madagascar as a replacement opponent to ensure preparations remained on schedule.
Friendly matches are often crucial in the final stages of tournament planning, allowing coaching staffs to evaluate player performances, experiment with tactical systems and build chemistry within the squad without the pressure of competitive results.
For Morocco, the match comes at an important stage of their World Cup preparations, with another friendly against Norway also scheduled later this month. Both fixtures are expected to help the technical team make final adjustments before the tournament gets underway.
The Atlas Lions are set to open their World Cup campaign against Brazil, making every remaining preparation match significant as the squad looks to build momentum heading into the competition.
The game against Madagascar will also provide a platform for several players seeking to strengthen their positions within the squad. With places becoming increasingly competitive as the tournament approaches, strong performances could influence the coaching staff’s final decisions.
Among those expected to attract attention are Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ayoube Amaimouni, both of whom are viewed as players with an opportunity to impress during one of Morocco’s final assessment matches before the World Cup.
With preparations entering a decisive phase, Morocco will view the friendly in Rabat as another important step in fine-tuning their approach ahead of the biggest tournament in world football.
