France's defeat in the 2026 World Cup semifinal sparked widespread riots and street clashes in major cities across the country، including Paris. Fan frustration escalated into looting، arson، and violent confrontations with police، reports infohub.kz.
Played at a stadium in Texas، the match ended with a convincing win for Spain. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (a penalty in the 22nd minute) and Pedro Porro (58th minute) dashed France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
According to the Times of India، a wave of discontent swept both the stadium and French streets immediately after the final whistle. Fans criticized head coach Didier Deschamps for a lack of attacking cohesion، as well as captain Kylian Mbappé، who delivered a lackluster performance.
According to business portal LiveMint، spontaneous riots erupted in many French cities. Angry groups of fans began vandalizing urban infrastructure، setting parked cars and trash bins on fire.
To disperse the aggressive crowds on the Champs-Élysées and other key points in Paris، police used special measures and tear gas. Footage of burning streets and clashes between gendarmes and protesters circulated on social media.
Experts note that street riots after major football matches have become a troubling trend for France. Similar large-scale riots occurred in May 2026 after Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League victory (more than 200 people were injured and nearly 900 hooligans arrested)، as well as after France's win over Morocco in the quarterfinals of the current tournament.