Violent disorder broke out on Edgware Road in London late Thursday night, July 9, 2026, after Morocco was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup following a 2–0 quarterfinal defeat to France.

 

London plunged into chaos as riot police are deployed after Morocco’s defeat in the World Cup

Violent disorder broke out on Edgware Road in London late Thursday night, July 9, 2026, after Morocco was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup following a 2–0 quarterfinal defeat to France.

The Metropolitan Police initially responded to reports of a large crowd blocking traffic. The situation rapidly escalated into rioting, prompting the urgent deployment of riot police officers to restore public order.

 

Incident Overview

• Location: Edgware Road in West London, an area with a large Arab and North African community.
• Escalation: Crowds of football fans flooded the streets, waved flags, climbed on phone boxes and traffic lights, and blocked major thoroughfares.
• Violence: Rioters launched fireworks and flares, and threw glass bottles and debris directly at police lines.
• Casualties: One police officer was hospitalized after sustaining head injuries from being struck by a flying glass bottle.
• Arrests: Authorities confirmed four people were arrested for violent disorder during the clashes.

Context of the Unrest

While British riot police battled crowds to clear scattered glass and burning debris in London, the French capital of Paris—where security forces had heavily prepared for potential riots—remained relatively peaceful, with fans celebrating France's victory on the Champs-Élysées. Similar football-related rioting by Morocco supporters occurred earlier in the week in The Hague, Netherlands, following their match against the Dutch squad.

The Metropolitan Police have maintained a heavy presence in the area and are reviewing CCTV and social media footage to identify and prosecute additional rioters