The Moroccan newspaper Onze Mondial reported that the Moroccan national team will not play a friendly match against Argentina in either November or March due to the Argentine Football Association’s exorbitant demands.
Negotiations between the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and the Argentine Football Association had been ongoing for weeks to arrange a match in Casablanca between the Atlas Lions and the Land of Silver, but they collapsed at the last minute.
The Fouzi Lekjaa administration found the Argentine FA’s demands unreasonable. They were seeking €10 million, in addition to business-class airfare and other logistical benefits, and there was no guarantee that Lionel Messi would participate.
Because of these demands, Morocco withdrew from hosting Argentina and began negotiating with other international teams to play one of them during the international break in March 2026, as coach Walid Regragui is keen to play a high-profile match three months before the World Cup.
Morocco had announced that it would play two friendly matches during the upcoming November break against Mozambique on the 14th at the Grand Stade de Tanger, and Uganda on the 18th at the same stadium.
