A police officer was injured and four people were arrested after violent disorder broke out in London following France’s 2-0 win against Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinal on Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were initially called to Edgware Road after a group of people gathered and blocked traffic before the incident escalated, with bottles thrown and fireworks set off.

Footage shared on social media showed officers in riot gear forming lines across the road as bottles and other objects were thrown. One clip appeared to show an injured person being treated on the ground behind police vehicles.

The Metropolitan Police said one officer was taken to hospital with a head injury after it was believed he had been struck by a glass bottle. He has since been released from hospital.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told ESPN: “One officer has been injured, and four people have been arrested following disorder in Edgware Road.

“Officers were initially called after a group of people congregated in the road and blocked traffic. The incident then escalated with the group throwing bottles and setting off fireworks. As a result, further officers were deployed to the area.

“One officer was taken to hospital for head injuries, it is believed he had been hit by a glass bottle. He has now been released from hospital and no other injuries were reported. Officers remained in the area and made four arrests for violent disorder, with the group dispersing and the road re-opened from around 01:00hrs.

“We will not tolerate such disorder on our streets, or attacks on our officers. A police presence will remain in the area overnight and we will be reviewing CCTV and video footage circulating on social media to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice.”

The disorder followed France’s victory over Morocco in Boston, secured by second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.

Belgium are embracing their underdog status ahead of Friday’s World Cup quarter-final ⁠against Spain, with coach Rudi Garcia confident they have the attacking quality and belief to upset the European champions.

Spain entered the ‌tournament as one of the favourites and after a slow start found their swagger with ‌a 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 32.

While ‌Spain coach Luis de la Fuente struck a philosophical tone in his own ‌pre-match media conference, quoting Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Garcia leaned instead ‌on analytics and squad management.

“We know we are playing one of the favourites. Spain are probably the best at ball possession and they have been playing in ‌a recognisable way for 15 or 20 years,” ⁠he said.

“But we have a ‌great team. We are the second-highest scorers in the World Cup and we are ​facing the team with the highest expected goals. We think we can do it.”

Belgium, with 13 goals, are the third-highest ​scorers behind France (16) and Argentina (14).

Veteran forward Romelu Lukaku, whose workload has been managed during the tournament, said Belgium would need the perfect game ⁠to progress.

“If you get ​this far, you don’t play just to go home,” the 33-year-old said.

“Spain are an excellent team. They look for the third man, they have speed on the sides and they provide depth. But we are well prepared ‌and we have assets that can make life difficult for them.”

Lukaku said his role had been agreed after a long conversation with Garcia in April and that his

Global music icons Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna and Shakira are set to share one stage for the first-ever halftime show in FIFA World Cup final history.

The landmark performance will headline the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, marking the first time FIFA has introduced a Super Bowl-style entertainment spectacle during the world’s biggest football match.

Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber joins a star-studded lineup that already includes pop legend Madonna, Latin music queen Shakira, and K-pop supergroup BTS, bringing together four of the world’s biggest musical acts for an unforgettable 11-minute performance.

Canadian singer Justin Bieber 2021
The show is being creatively directed by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and will also feature performances by Nigerian Grammy-winning star Burna Boy, world-renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Coldplay, New York’s PS22 Children’s Chorus, as well as appearances by beloved Sesame Street and The Muppets characters.

FIFA expects the final and its halftime spectacle to attract an audience of around two billion viewers worldwide across television and digital streaming platforms.

Beyond entertainment, the show will also support a global cause. FIFA plans to use the event to help raise 100 million dollars for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to expand access to education and football opportunities for underprivileged children around the world.

With football, music and philanthropy sharing the spotlight, the 2026 World Cup final is shaping up to be more than a battle for the trophy; it promises to be one of the biggest entertainment moments in sporting history.