French police will be heavily deployed in the streets of Paris before, during, and after the national team's match against Morocco in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, amid fears that far-right extremist groups may try to use the game to clash with Moroccans.

The French Interior Ministry has revealed that it will deploy more than 20,000 police officers across the country, including 8,000 in the streets of the capital, as a security memo warned of possible riots regardless of the match result.

The security memo stated: There are concerns that far-right fan groups may use the match as a pretext to try to clash with Moroccan fans.

Several metro stations will be closed, and the area around the Champs-Élysées will be closed to public transport, with police describing the plan as "appropriate and necessary to ensure the safety of individuals and property."

Advertisement

Advertisement