With less than a month to the start of the FIFA World Cup, Morocco have lined up three warm-up matches as new coach Mohamed Ouahbi seeks more time to fine-tune his squad ahead of the global showpiece in the United States.

The North Africans, who stunned the football world by reaching the semi-finals at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, appointed Ouahbi in March following the resignation of Walid Regragui.

Since taking over, Ouahbi has handled only two matches, drawing against Ecuador and defeating Paraguay as he began shaping his team for the tournament.

According to the Moroccan Football Federation, the Atlas Lions will open their preparations with a closed-door friendly against Burundi on May 26 at the team’s training centre in Sale.

They will then face Madagascar on June 2 in Rabat in what is expected to serve as the team’s official send-off before departure for the World Cup.

After arriving in the United States, where Morocco’s base camp will be located in Basking Ridge, the team will conclude their preparations with a clash against Norway on June 7 in New York City.

Reports indicate that Morocco will begin camping on May 22, although the final squad is not expected to be announced until a week later.

Morocco have been drawn in Group C of the World Cup, where they will open their campaign against Brazil on June 13 in New York before taking on Scotland in Boston on June 19. Their final group match will be against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta.

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As preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, health authorities in Toronto are taking a creative approach to public awareness by distributing free football-themed condoms ahead of the tournament.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) announced that it will offer limited-edition condoms inspired by football as part of efforts to promote safer sex during the global football spectacle, which runs from June 11 to July 19 next year.

More than 300,000 visitors are expected in Toronto during the tournament, prompting city officials to combine football excitement with sexual health education through the CondomTO initiative.

The special-edition condoms feature six football-themed designs and slogans, including “Block those shots!”, “What a finish!” and “Peaches & Cream.” One of the designs reportedly displays a peach and eggplant positioned in front of a football goalpost.

According to Toronto Public Health, the condoms and other safer-sex supplies will be available at four TPH-operated sexual health clinics across the city.

Health officials said the initiative is aimed at encouraging responsible sexual behaviour, reducing stigma surrounding sexual health discussions and connecting residents and visitors with available healthcare services.

“Studies show that using a condom every time you have oral, anal or vaginal sex decreases the risk of sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections, HIV and/or unplanned pregnancy,” Toronto Public Health stated on its website.

Canada will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico in the first-ever 48-team edition of the tournament.

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Basketball legend Magic Johnson has rallied football fans across the globe to choose Los Angeles as their preferred destination for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the city as the “sports capital of the world.”

Speaking during a “30 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026” event held at SoFi Stadium on Tuesday, the former NBA superstar said Los Angeles was preparing to offer visitors much more than football matches during the global tournament.

“The world game is coming to the greatest city in the world,” Johnson declared at the ceremony, which was organised to promote both the World Cup and Los Angeles’ reputation as a major global sporting and entertainment centre.

Johnson, a five-time NBA champion and three-time Most Valuable Player, noted that the city was entering a historic sporting era, with the World Cup, the NFL Super Bowl and the 2028 Summer Olympics all scheduled within the next few years.

Los Angeles will stage eight World Cup matches involving teams such as the United States, Paraguay, Iran, New Zealand, Switzerland, Bosnia, Belgium and Turkey.

The 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature an expanded 48-team format across 16 host cities in North America.

According to Kathryn Schloessman, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and head of the local host committee, supporters can expect a “giant soccer carnival” across the city throughout the competition.

Organisers also stressed the availability of affordable transportation, highlighting stadium transit fares costing as little as $1.75 — a sharp contrast to transportation and event pricing concerns raised in some East Coast host cities.

Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, debate has continued over the World Cup’s economic and social impact. Critics have expressed fears about rising housing costs, pressure on public services, homelessness and the financial burden on taxpayers.

Los Angeles is also scheduled to host the U.S. opening ceremony of the World Cup on June 12, with pop star Katy Perry expected to headline the entertainment programme. The event follows opening celebrations in Mexico City and Toronto, reflecting the tournament’s tri-nation hosting arrangement.

Although internationally recognised for franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, the city has also enjoyed a rich football culture through the LA Galaxy, which previously attracted stars such as David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven Gerrard.

To further boost excitement ahead of the tournament, the Los Angeles World Cup committee has enlisted celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Eva Longoria and Will Ferrell as community ambassadors.

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