A police officer was injured and four people were arrested after clashes erupted between football fans and police in central London following Morocco’s 2-0 defeat to France in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.
The unrest unfolded on Edgware Road near Hyde Park, where large crowds gathered after the match. According to reports, several fans blocked traffic, prompting police intervention before the situation escalated into violence.
Bottles and Fireworks Thrown at Police
Videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes, with some individuals allegedly throwing glass bottles and other objects at police officers.
Another widely shared clip appeared to show officers restraining a man on the ground while being surrounded by a crowd of supporters.
According to the Metropolitan Police, one officer suffered a head injury after reportedly being struck by a glass bottle and was taken to hospital for treatment.
“One officer was taken to hospital for head injuries, it is believed he had been hit by a glass bottle,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson was quoted as saying by AFP.
The spokesperson added:
“The incident then escalated with the group throwing bottles and setting off fireworks.”
Police confirmed that four people were arrested in connection with the disorder.
France Advance to World Cup Semi-Finals
The disturbances followed France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Boston.
France captain Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 60th minute before Ousmane Dembele added a second goal to secure Les Bleus’ place in the semi-finals.
Mbappe Reaches Historic Milestones
Mbappe’s goal added another chapter to his remarkable World Cup career.
The French captain became:
- The youngest player to reach 20 FIFA World Cup appearances.
- The fastest player to score 20 World Cup goals.
His strike took his career World Cup tally to 20 goals across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 tournaments, leaving him just one goal behind Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup record of 21 goals.
The goal was also Mbappe’s eighth of the 2026 World Cup, drawing him level with Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
France will now head into the semi-finals carrying strong momentum as they continue their pursuit of a third FIFA World Cup title.