France mobilizes over 70,000 security personnel for World Cup semi-final
Enhanced security measures will be implemented on the day of the match against Spain, which coincides with Bastille Day celebrations.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Кирилл Венедиктов
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has announced that over 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed to maintain public order during the 2026 World Cup semi-final between France and Spain.
The authorities have implemented high-level security measures for the entire day of July 14, which marks Bastille Day, France's national holiday. In Paris alone, approximately 5,000 law enforcement officers will be on duty to secure both the traditional military parade on the Champs-Élysées and the evening football match.
Nuñez noted that there will be zero tolerance for any public order violations during the semi-final. This follows the aftermath of the quarter-final match against Morocco, where 89 people were detained and a tragic road accident occurred in the Nord department resulting in the death of a 17-year-old girl.