Former Spanish PM Sparks Controversy Over France World Cup Team's Composition

As France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco to advance to the 2026 World Cup semifinals, tensions rose ahead of their upcoming match against Spain. Mariano Rajoy, former Prime Minister of Spain, ignited controversy with an opinion piece published on the Spanish website El Debate. In the article, Rajoy acknowledged Spain's achievement in reaching the semifinals and praised France's strong World Cup record, noting their two previous World Cup titles, undefeated run in the current tournament, and top world ranking.

However, Rajoy's comment that "this is without a single French player" sparked backlash. The remark was interpreted as a pointed reference to the diverse origins of many French team members, including star player Kylian Mbappé, whose mother is Algerian. Notably, only three players in the French squad were born outside France: Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram, and Brais Samba. Rajoy's statement drew significant criticism on social media and in French media, where it was viewed as an offensive jab at the French national team and its multicultural makeup.

The controversy highlights ongoing sensitivities around national identity and diversity in international sports, especially in high-profile tournaments like the World Cup. The semifinal match between Spain and France is highly anticipated amid this charged atmosphere.