Egyptian football fans clashed with police in London's Edgware Road area on July 4, 2026, after their national team defeated Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout during the World Cup. The neighbourhood, known as 'Little Cairo', descended into chaos as thousands of supporters flooded the streets, climbing double-decker buses and bringing traffic to a standstill.
Violence erupts as celebrations turn ugly
Police officers were filmed wrestling with fans as crowds waved Egyptian flags and cheered. The tense match ended in a penalty shootout, with Egypt securing victory. Fans made their way between cars and buses, causing significant disruption. No injuries have been reported, but the scene highlighted the intensity of World Cup fervour among London's Egyptian community.
England vs Mexico kick-off controversy
In other World Cup news, England's last-16 match against Mexico is set to start at 1am BST on Sunday as originally scheduled, after FIFA proposed moving the kick-off earlier due to thunderstorms forecast in Mexico City. FIFA considered switching the start to 12:00 pm local time (7 pm BST on Sunday) to avoid delays. Several Mexican outlets reported the decision was made, but FIFA remained silent, causing confusion among teams and travelling England fans based in the United States.
Mexico's head coach, Javier Aguirre, expressed fury over the proposal, claiming he was not consulted and described it as a 'kick in the stomach'. FIFA maintain no decision was ever made to reschedule, but a change was ultimately implemented due to weather conditions.
London heatwave and other news
London is experiencing extreme heat, with pavements reaching 57°C. A department store in the city also caught fire, sending thick black smoke into the air. Builders marched to Downing Street on the hottest day to call for an end to violence against women. For more London news, visit Metro's London news hub.
