France calls for calm ahead of Morocco-France World Cup quarter-final

French Security Services On High Alert For Morocco-France World Cup Semi-Final: 'Get Ready For Riots & Violence'

French Security Services On High Alert For Morocco-France World Cup Semi-Final: 'Get Ready For Riots & Violence' France is warning football fans to behave and conduct themselves responsibly ahead of a major Thursday World Cup quarter-final match which pits France against African champions Morocco. Security services are on high alert, the government has said. The match kicks off at 4:00 PM ET. "I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility. It has to remain a celebration," Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told the France Info broadcaster, after in previous years various high profile matches have sparked unrest and riots. France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has warned that "no misconduct would be tolerated." Morocco will be out for revenge after it was knocked out of the 2022 semi-final by France. via EPA As it turns out, there are multiple members of Morocco's national team that were born in France and/or play for French clubs - most notably Spanish-born team captain Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain. It remains that Moroccans are the second biggest non-European ethnic group in France (after Algerians). There has been a long history of tensions and conflict between French citizens and largely non-assimilated Moroccan communities spanning a period of years. It must also be remembered that during France's 20th century colonialism, Morocco was French protectorate from 1912 to 1956. Some online pundits are predicting riots and violence, regardless of the outcome, and that the situation is primed for it: It’s bad news for several European cities that Morocco won [prior advancement in the cup]. Brussels, Paris, Montpelier, Lyon, and even some Dutch cities. If France go through as they are expected to later tonight, it’s bad news for French police. When France beat Morocco in WC 2022, 10,000 police had to be deployed across France. 5,000 in Paris alone. Get ready for riots and violence. The French team boasts of being 2018 World Cup champions and the 2022 runners-up. France beat the Moroccan team 2-0 in the semi-finals in 2022, ending up to that point was dubbed a 'fairy tail' advancement, hence 'revenge' is on the table. To review of the underdog's performance so far in the tournament, Morocco has "enjoyed a successful tournament run ahead of this heavyweight clash, having drawn 1-1 with Brazil in a match they dominated statistically in the group stages, followed by expected wins over Scotland (1-0) and Haiti (4-2), and possess what many say is one of the most frightening attacking sides of the tournament." Predictions for the aftermath have tended to go something like this... 🇫🇷🇲🇦 France plays Morocco today in the 2026 World Cup quarter-final at 22:00 Paris time. No matter who wins, Paris will burn... pic.twitter.com/PGtanOma3t — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 9, 2026 The memes have been in hyperdrive... Paris regardless of the outcome of Morocco vs France: pic.twitter.com/TJmVMV8R3I — Mads (@europemaxxed) July 5, 2026 Of the security situation, during an already extraordinarily hot summer, Euronews reviews further, "Authorities in Paris and other major cities are preparing for unrest, deploying several thousand police officers in preparation for intense clashes similar to those that erupted after the 2022 World Cup semifinal between the North African nation and its former colonial ruler." "More than 250 people, many of them in the capital, were arrested for violent clashes with civilians and police officers after France’s victory," the report adds. "Authorities have advised the public to exercise caution and football fans to remain peaceful and respectful of the law." Some news sources say that 20,000+ additional French police are being deployed tonight just on fears of soccer unrest, with at least 8,000 extra in Paris alone. Tyler Durden Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:20

3 hours ago

France urges calm during World Cup game against Morocco

PARIS, France (AFP)—France has urged its football fans to be responsible as their team prepares to face  African champions Morocco on Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final, after previous high-profile matches led to unrest. Morocco won independence from France in 1956 and has a mostly settled relationship with the former colonial power, which is home to hundreds of thousands of Moroccans or French citizens of Moroccan descent. Several members of Morocco's national team this year were born in France and play for French clubs. Team captain Achraf Hakimi was born in Spain but plays for Paris Saint-Germain. Celebrations were mostly peaceful when France beat Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semi-final. But security forces are to be on alert around France during the game from 10:00 pm (20:00 GMT) on Thursday. "I appeal to everyone's sense of responsibility. It has to remain a celebration," Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told the France Info broadcaster. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has said "no misconduct would be tolerated". After the PSG beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in May, Paris police took 225 adults into custody, charging around half of them with offences including confronting the police and material damage, the city's top prosecutor said.

7 hours ago

France urges calm among fans during World Cup game against Morocco

Several members of Morocco's national team this year were born in France and play for French clubs. The post France urges calm among fans during World Cup game against Morocco appeared first on Vanguard News.

7 hours ago

France urges calm during World Cup game against Morocco

France has urged its football fans to be responsible as their team prepares to face African champions Morocco on Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final, after previous high-profile matches led to unrest.

8 hours ago