France has appealed to football supporters to celebrate responsibly as the national team prepares to face African champions Morocco in a World Cup quarter-final on Thursday.

Security has been stepped up across the country following previous high-profile matches that resulted in public disturbances, despite largely peaceful celebrations when France defeated Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semi-final.

Morocco, which gained independence from France in 1956, maintains close ties with the former colonial power and has a large diaspora in France. Several members of the Moroccan national team were born in France and play for French clubs, while team captain Achraf Hakimi was born in Spain and currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

France's Sports Minister, Marina Ferrari, called on supporters to ensure the match remains a celebration, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that any form of misconduct would not be tolerated.