France became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco in Boston, but the aftermath turned violent in central London, where police clashed with football fans in the early hours of Friday. The Metropolitan Police described the incident as "violent disorder", with one officer taken to hospital for head injuries after being struck by what is believed to be a glass bottle. The trouble underlines the public-order challenges that can accompany major tournament matches even in host and non-host cities.

Police said four people were arrested and one officer injured after a group blocked traffic on Edgware Road, near Hyde Park, before throwing bottles and setting off fireworks. On the pitch, Kylian Mbappé scored the opener and had a hand in the second before being substituted with 13 minutes remaining amid concerns over his ankle, though he is not expected to be a doubt for the semi-final. France, the tournament favourites, will next face the winner of Friday's Spain v Belgium quarter-final, while the other side of the draw features England v Norway and Argentina v Switzerland over the weekend.