Morocco to Play Closed-Door Match Against Burundi Ahead of 2026 World Cup. Morocco kicks off its World Cup preparations with a match against Burundi. The game will take place without spectators or broadcasts, a decision driven by tactical work and squad secrecy.
The Morocco national team is holding its first closed-door friendly today as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The match against Burundi, ranked 142nd by FIFA, will take place at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé. Kickoff is scheduled for 15:00 Spanish time (14:00 Moroccan time). A key feature is the complete absence of spectators and live broadcasts: the federation has decided to avoid all external distractions and keep tactical developments secret until the official squad is announced for FIFA.
Under the guidance of Mohamed Ouahbi, the Atlas Lions are using this match to test formations and assess players ahead of a tough Group C, where they will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Burundi, despite a recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifying success against Chad, failed to reach the World Cup but is considered a suitable opponent for trialing new strategies.
The closed format for this match is deliberate: Morocco's coaching staff aims to prevent leaks of information about tactics and line-ups, so as not to give competitors grounds for analysis. This approach is becoming increasingly common among national teams ahead of major tournaments. As russpain.com notes, there are also significant reshuffles and staffing decisions taking place in European football, affecting team preparations — more details can be found in the article about transfers and changes in leading clubs' squads.
For Morocco, this stage of preparation is critically important: the team has found itself in a group with world football favorites for the first time in a long while. The Mohammed VI Academy, where the match is taking place, is considered one of the most advanced training facilities in the region. The lack of broadcast and public access underscores the seriousness of their approach to detail and the desire to preserve competitive advantages until the tournament begins. In recent years, FIFA has tightened requirements for transparency in bids and squad lists, making such closed matches rare, but not unheard of, for teams aiming for top results.
