SouthernWorldwide.com – Disorder erupted in parts of London late Thursday night, with Morocco’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup by France appearing to be the catalyst.
France defeated Morocco 2-0, ending the African nation’s journey in the tournament for the second consecutive time, this time in the quarterfinal stage.
Leading up to the match, there were fears that Paris might experience riots, especially following the disturbances that occurred after Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League victory over Arsenal in May.
However, contrary to those expectations, images and videos emerging from Edgware Road in northwest London depicted clashes between police and large crowds. Smoke was seen billowing through the streets, and debris was scattered across the roadway.
Riot police, outfitted with shields and body armor, made efforts to control the gatherings. They were seen confronting individuals who were launching fireworks and hurling debris. One video appeared to show a police officer falling to the ground.
The condition of the officer who was on the asphalt and the circumstances of their injury remain unknown.
Supporters were observed waving Moroccan flags in the middle of the streets, causing traffic to be held up. Some individuals were seen climbing onto vehicles attempting to navigate through the area.
Similar scenes were witnessed after Egypt’s departure from the World Cup, following a controversial 3-2 victory by Argentina that involved several contentious officiating decisions.
In contrast, Paris seemed to be a city celebrating rather than one on the verge of a riot. Fans of both France and Morocco filled the streets, causing traffic to slow in various parts of the city.
One video captured the sound of car horns blaring from vehicles displaying French and Moroccan flags from their windows along L’avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Onlookers on the sidewalks, waving their own flags, joined in the festive atmosphere.
Kylian Mbappé of France scored his eighth goal of the World Cup, matching Lionel Messi of Argentina for the most goals in the tournament. Ousmane Dembélé also found the net in the second half, contributing to France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco.
This marks France’s third consecutive appearance in the semifinals. Morocco, despite the loss, achieved a significant milestone in World Cup history. Following their achievement as the first African country to reach the quarterfinals and semifinals in 2022, Morocco further cemented their legacy by becoming the first African nation to advance to more than one quarterfinal.
With Morocco’s exit, no more African nations remain in the World Cup. France is set to face the winner of the match between Spain and Belgium. Meanwhile, England will play Norway, and Argentina will compete against Switzerland in their respective quarterfinal matches.
