France Faces Racial Abuse at World Cup as Diversity Becomes Target

France’s national football team is making strong progress in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it is also facing repeated racial discrimination. As they prepare to face Spain in the semifinals tonight, the issue has resurfaced.

After Paraguay was eliminated by France in the Round of 16, Senator Celeste Amarilla of Paraguay claimed that French star Kylian Mbappé was a 'colonized Cameroonian pretending to be French.'

Mariano Rajoy, former conservative Prime Minister of Spain, also wrote an article stating that this French team 'has no French people.'

In response, Lamine Yamal, a rising star in Spain’s squad, said in an interview: 'This doesn’t need more attention than the game itself, but if football has any purpose, it’s to integrate society. France and we are the best examples—we are integration in action. That’s what football is all about.'

Spanish player Borja Iglesias expressed support for the French team: 'I’m surprised people still think this way, because life and society are so diverse now. Everyone is unique, and that’s our wealth.'

Pau Cubarsí added: 'No matter your skin color, if you play for France, you are French.'

This is not the first time France’s team has been targeted by racist remarks. When France won the World Cup in 2018, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro claimed, 'Africa actually won—with African immigrants who came to France.'

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the late far-right French politician (father of current presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who passed away in January 2025), said during Euro 1996 that 'importing foreign players and calling them the French team is an artificial act.' He also criticized some players for not singing the national anthem, 'La Marseillaise.'

Historian Yvan Gastaut, who studies immigration and sports, believes France is targeted precisely because its team symbolizes successful multiculturalism.

In an interview with Le Parisien, Gastaut said such comments reflect a misunderstanding of France’s history and society. 'France is a country of immigration and colonialism, and it benefits from this diversity. The best talents in the national team come from diverse backgrounds, and this success provokes jealousy and hatred from those who don’t understand or oversimplify French history.'

France currently ranks first in the FIFA World Rankings, with Spain in third place behind Argentina. These three teams, along with England in fourth, have all advanced to the semifinals of this World Cup.

After defeating Sweden 3-0 on the 30th of last month, Mbappé posted on social media: 'We are not to be messed with…' His teammates Maxence Lacroix and Ibrahima Konaté echoed the phrase in media interviews on the 12th of this month.

Lacroix said the slogan reflects the team’s mindset, motivating players: 'This team is full of warriors who want to stand tall and emerge victorious from every match.'

France and Spain will face off tonight (3:00 AM Taiwan time on the 15th) for a spot in the final.