Friendly Match Scheduled Against Qatar
The national football team of El Salvador is set to play a friendly match against Qatar on June 6, 2026, in Los Angeles, United States, during the FIFA international match window. This game comes after the cancellation of a previously scheduled match against Morocco earlier in the same month. Yamil Bukele, the president of the Salvadoran Football Federation (Fesfut), announced that the match will not be broadcast on television due to a request from Qatari authorities.
The adjustment in the schedule was prompted by a notification from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, which stated that it would not be able to field its full squad for the match planned on June 3 in Maryland. Morocco suggested rescheduling the match to June 2 in Africa, offering to cover the travel expenses for the Salvadoran delegation. However, the Salvadoran federation declined this alternative, citing FIFA regulations that prohibit matches across different continents on the same FIFA match date. Fesfut reiterated its initial plan to hold two friendly matches during this period.
Strategic Importance of the Match
This restriction has been enforced in previous friendly cycles and requires federations to prioritize logistical and sporting organization within a single continent for each FIFA date. Bukele expressed gratitude to the Moroccan federation for their courtesy and openness, clarifying that while they would have loved to play that match, traveling to Africa was not feasible due to FIFA's regulations. He affirmed their commitment to their planning process, which includes scheduling two friendly matches during the international window.
Bukele also indicated that the second opponent for El Salvador's friendly matches will be announced in the coming days. The match against the Qatari team will take place at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles and is significant not only for El Salvador but also for Qatar, which has qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Qatar will compete in Group B alongside Canada, Bosnia, and Switzerland, making this encounter a strategically important one in preparation for the prestigious tournament.
Under the guidance of Julen Lopetegui, a seasoned coach with a history at prestigious clubs such as Real Madrid, Porto, and West Ham, Qatar aims to improve upon its previous World Cup performance, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage as the host nation. Meanwhile, “Bolillo” Gómez, the coach of the Central American team, is preparing for the 2026-2027 CONCACAF Nations League, which will take place following the World Cup.
As reported by infobae.com.
