A man was hit by a car on Edgware Road as jubilant Egyptian fans clashed with police after their World Cup victory over Australia, sparking chaos in the neighbourhood known as 'Little Cairo'. Police officers were filmed wrestling fans as crowds filled the streets, climbing double-decker buses and halting traffic while cheering and waving Egyptian flags. The tense match had ended in a penalty shootout, with Egypt winning 4-2. Scenes of jubilation turned ugly as police attempted to disperse the huge crowds.
Hours earlier, hundreds of jubilant Morocco supporters had taken over London's Piccadilly Circus after their country's 3-0 win over Canada in Houston, which booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals. Horns blared and clouds of red and green smoke filled the air as people danced in the street, with a large police presence trying to maintain order at one of the busiest spots in the West End. The celebrations came after tens of thousands of people had taken part in Pride in London festivities, which saw the annual LGBTQ+ parade pass Piccadilly Circus.
“A man was hit by a car as Egyptian fans clashed with police on Edgware Road during World Cup celebrations.”
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in the second half for Morocco, breaking the deadlock five minutes after the restart with a low shot following a well-worked free kick, and then adding a late second on the break before Soufiane Rahimi added a third in stoppage time. Atlas Lions coach Mohamed Ouahbi said: "It is a World Cup match and these are difficult games with teams playing for their lives. We reacted very well in the second half." Canada boss Jesse Marsch felt his squad had given their all: "We achieved tremendous success (at the World Cup). Of course, we would have liked to be the ones celebrating instead of them, but this is as far as we could go."
London has been named the most World Cup-mad city in the UK, followed closely by Liverpool. The capital's streets have been alive with fans throughout the tournament, but the weekend's scenes on Edgware Road and in Piccadilly Circus highlighted the raw passion and occasional disorder that the global event can trigger.