International Friendly: Morocco and Norway to Face Off Ahead of 2026 World Cup. This Sunday, Morocco and Norway will play a friendly match in preparation for the World Cup. The game is set for June 7 and will be broadcast on Movistar+. For Morocco, this will be their first match with the new head coach.
On Sunday, June 7, at 21:00 Spanish time, a friendly match between the national teams of Morocco and Norway will take place—a key rehearsal for both teams ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup. The game comes amid a reshuffle in the Moroccan squad and heightened interest in their performance following the team's historic success at the previous World Cup.
Morocco, which became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, enters the new tournament with changes to its coaching staff. In March, Mohamed Ouahbi took charge, having previously led the country's youth team to victory at the U-20 World Cup. The previous coach, Walid Regragui, left his post after the tournament in Qatar. The Moroccan lineup still features standout players competing in Europe's top leagues: captain Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
The Norwegian national team, which hasn't reached the final stages of major tournaments since 2000, is also hoping for a strong showing. Interest in the team was stirred by a photoshoot of players and coaching staff dressed as Vikings against a Norwegian fjord backdrop, sparking controversy in the local media over the use of runes and national stereotypes. Despite the criticism, coach Ståle Solbakken emphasized that the team is focused on preparing for the tournament, where they will compete in Group I against France, Senegal, and Iraq.
The Morocco vs. Norway match will be the first official test for Morocco’s revamped squad ahead of their World Cup debut against Brazil. The importance of the encounter is underscored by the fact that most key Moroccan players received their football education in Spain, France, and the Netherlands, which influences the team’s style of play. In midfield, Nabil El Ainaoui stands out, having performed well for Roma last season.
The match will be broadcast on Movistar+, allowing the Spanish audience to follow the preparations of one of Africa’s most talked-about national teams. Interest in the game is heightened by Morocco’s recent bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, as the team now looks to cement its status as an elite side on the world stage.
Recently, attention in the context of Spanish women’s football has been drawn to the match between Real Sociedad Femenino and Atlético de Madrid Femenino, where a decisive goal gave the Basque team the advantage – more on this event can be found in the article about the unexpected twist in the women’s teams’ game.
For reference: the 2026 World Cup will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time in history, 48 teams will compete in the final stage. Spain, the reigning world champion, will start the tournament in Group D. Morocco will begin with a match against Brazil, while Norway faces Iraq. The pre-tournament friendlies are traditionally used for the final check of the squad and tactics, as well as for adapting to match conditions and opponents.
