Morocco to face Haaland's Norway in key World Cup 2026 warm-up
The Moroccan football federation has announced that the national team will face Norway in a friendly match on Sunday, 7 June 2026. The fixture will be played at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, in the United States, as confirmed in an official statement released this Tuesday. The match forms a crucial part of Morocco's final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins just one week later.
For Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, the game represents a significant high-level test. Walid Regragui's side is drawn in Group C alongside Scotland, Haiti, and tournament favourites Brazil, whom they face in their opening match on 14 June. According to the federation, facing a Norway side spearheaded by Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth provides an ideal challenge against a direct and physical European opponent, mimicking some of the threats they will encounter in the group stage.
The context for Norway is equally pivotal. The Scandinavian nation, which did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup, will use the match as a major event in their own calendar, facing the eighth-ranked team in the world according to FIFA's rankings. For star striker Erling Haaland, it is a rare opportunity to test himself against one of international football's most resilient defences on a major stage. Norway's subsequent schedule includes Nations League matches against France, Iraq, and Senegal later in 2026.
This friendly also carries a subplot of recent continental success, as Morocco are the reigning African champions. They defeated Senegal, who are in Norway's upcoming Nations League group, in the final of the last Africa Cup of Nations. The match in New Jersey is expected to draw a large crowd from the local diaspora, providing a vibrant atmosphere for both teams' final tune-ups. For Morocco, a strong performance against one of the world's most feared forwards in Haaland would provide a substantial confidence boost ahead of their daunting World Cup opener against Brazil.
