9 Year old boy - friends / play dates

[Rainbowstr]

Hello, My 9 year old son doesn't get invited to any friends houses, he gets invited to birthday parties but that is where it ends. He's never had a sleep over. He seems popular at school, no issues there, I have told him to ask his friends over anytime, he says they don't want to come to his house. I feel he's at an age to organize his own play dates but do I need to step him and do something?

I think at 9 you still need to get involved and message the parents of the child he'd/you'd like to invite? I mean, discuss it with him - obviously - but I think at 9 you still have to be a bit involved in the arrangements

Is he in year 4/5? My DD is in year 4 and all play dates are still managed by mothers.