Moroccan fans disrupt French team’s sleep with fireworks and drums ahead of World Cup clash

The night before one of the most anticipated quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, the French team’s rest was shattered not by tactical worries, but by a cacophony of fireworks, drums, and car horns.

According to reports from RMC Sport, several hundred Moroccan supporters gathered near the French team’s hotel in Boston on the night of Wednesday, July 8, just hours before the two nations were set to face off on Thursday evening. The operation began around 10:30 PM local time, with fireworks launched from adjacent streets before the crowd moved progressively closer to the establishment where Didier Deschamps’ squad was staying.

A Coordinated Nocturnal Operation

The disturbance escalated at approximately 10:45 PM, when powerful fireworks were launched from multiple directions. According to witnesses, the pyrotechnics were fired from Boylston Street and Stuart Street, located just behind the hotel. A white pickup truck was spotted on site, with several men in the back launching the fireworks.

The explosions were accompanied by a deafening chorus of car horns, drumming, and chants, creating what one report described as a “cacophony of noise”. The disruption lasted for several minutes. Reports indicate that the buildings near the hotel were affected, and the French players “inevitably heard the racket”.

Security Intervention — and a Friendly Ending

The French team’s security service was quickly alerted and intervened to disperse the crowd. Mohamed Sanhadji, the French team’s security officer, asked the fans to leave the premises.

Remarkably, the interaction ended on a warm note. According to reports, the Moroccan fans even sang a little song for Sanhadji after asking for his first name. The departure took place “with smiles, good humor, and in song”. Calm was restored, though a cluster of curious onlookers, including many Moroccans, remained behind the hotel barriers.

A Night Not Entirely Lost

Despite the disturbance, the French players were reportedly not yet asleep when the incident occurred. The evening also featured a positive distraction: two former French internationals, Thierry Henry and André-Pierre Gignac, visited the team. The two attackers were seen leaving the hotel shortly before midnight after exchanging words with several players.

A Familiar Tactic

This type of sleep disruption is not unprecedented during this World Cup. Earlier in the tournament, both Ecuador and England reported similar disturbances before their matches. Mexican supporters notably employed the same “Mexican formula” of fireworks and noise to disrupt opponents’ rest.

A Rematch Full of Emotion

The quarter-final clash in Boston is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, which France won 2-0. For Moroccan supporters, the atmosphere in Boston has been electric for days, with fans “massively investing the city’s streets”. The French team, aware of the fervor, knows it will be playing in what feels like an away match.

As for whether the fireworks achieved their desired effect of disrupting the French team’s preparation, the answer will be known when the two teams take the field at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night.