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Public unrest began in parts of London late on Thursday night, with Morocco’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of France appearing to be the cause.
France beat Morocco 2-0, forcing the African country’s elimination for the second consecutive tournament, this time in a quarter-final match.
As a result, many feared that Paris would erupt in riots, especially after the chaos that followed Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League victory over Arsenal in May. Instead, pictures and videos from Edgware Road in northwest London showed police clashing with large crowds as smoke billowed through the streets and debris littered the roadway.
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A police vehicle stands in the way as people from pro-Palestinian activist groups gather near the Edgware United Synagogue during a demonstration against the “Great Israeli Real Estate Event” organized by the real estate agency ‘My Home in Israel’, which markets property in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, in London, Britain, June 14, 2026. (Toby Shepherd)
Riot police, equipped with shields and body armor, were seen trying to contain the crowds as they clashed with people setting off fireworks and throwing rubbish. A video also appeared to show an officer down.
KYLIAN MBAPPE, OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ BREAK FRANCE INTO WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS WITH VICTORY OVER MOROCCO
It is not known what happened to the officer who was seen down on the tarmac, or how his injury occurred.
Fans were seen waving Moroccan flags in the middle of the streets, holding up traffic. Some were even seen jumping on top of vehicles trying to get through the area.
Moroccan fans in the stands before the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Richard Sellers/SportsphotoAllstar)
Similar scenes unfolded after Egypt’s World Cup exit as Argentina rallied for a controversial 3-2 win that featured several controversial refereeing decisions.
Paris, on the other hand, looked more like a city celebrating than a city on the brink of a riot. Supporters of both France and Morocco flooded the streets and slowed traffic in several parts of the city.
A video showed horns blaring from cars with French and Moroccan flags out the windows on Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Supporters on the side of the road, unfurling their own flags, joined in the celebrations.
France’s Kylian Mbappé scored his eighth goal of this World Cup, tying him with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the most. Ousmane Dembélé also scored in the second half for France in the 2-0 win over Morocco.
It is the third semi-final in a row for France, while Morocco still made World Cup history despite the loss. After becoming the first African country to reach the quarter-finals and semi-finals in the history of the 2022 World Cup, they only added to that by becoming the first African nation ever to reach more than one quarter-final.
Moroccan fans react as they attend a watch party for the World Cup round of 16 match between France and Morocco in Boston, Massachusetts on July 9, 2026. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP)
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Morocco’s exit means there are no more African nations alive in the World Cup. France will take on the winner of Spain and Belgium, while England-Norway and Argentina-Switzerland will also play in the quarter-finals.
