Hundreds in Belgium to cheer on Morocco at World Cup screening

Borgerhout, Belgium, is gearing up for a potential "people's festival" as hundreds of supporters are expected to gather in Park Spoor Oost to watch Morocco's World Cup quarter-final match against France on a large screen.

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I hope for a new people's festival.

Organizers, led by Ali El Moussaoui, are transforming the park into a viewing hub, anticipating a crowd of around 500 fans. This follows the success of a similar setup during Morocco's previous match, which drew between 300 and 400 supporters. The large screen, previously used by a local cafe, has been relocated to Bar Oost, adjacent to the park, to accommodate the demand.

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There is tremendous demand for large screens, but we got a bit lucky.

El Moussaoui highlighted the strong desire within the Moroccan community for such gatherings, especially for those living in smaller apartments in densely populated areas like Borgerhout. "They long to come together somewhere," he explained. The event requires significant logistical support, with dozens of volunteers needed to manage the setup, ensure a positive atmosphere, and handle cleanup. A unique attraction planned for the evening is a life-sized, talking robot, which organizers hope will be dressed in a Moroccan football shirt.

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There is barely any open space in Borgerhout and people often live in small apartments. They long to come together somewhere.

Should Morocco secure a victory, supporters are expected to move to Turnhoutsebaan for further celebrations, with stewards and police monitoring the situation to maintain order. El Moussaoui expressed optimism for a repeat of the previous match's success, which was largely incident-free and characterized as a "great people's festival."

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There will be a life-sized dancing robot, hopefully in a Morocco shirt.