Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has sparked controversy after comments he reportedly made about the France football team ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash between France and Spain. His remarks have drawn criticism from political figures in both countries, with several accusing him of making racist statements.
In an article reportedly published in the Spanish newspaper El Debate, Rajoy described France as a “very high-level squad” but added, “Of course, without Frenchmen.” The statement was widely interpreted as a reference to the African heritage of several players in the French national team, leading to accusations that the former prime minister questioned their French identity.
The comments quickly triggered backlash, with French and Spanish political leaders condemning the remarks. French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel accused Rajoy of displaying “blatant racism” toward members of the French national team.
French MP Pierre-Alexandre Anglade also criticised the former Spanish leader, calling the statement a serious insult toward both the French football team and the country. Spain’s ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) also expressed disappointment, stating that it was shameful for a former Spanish prime minister to make such comments.
Rajoy, a member of Spain’s centre-right Popular Party, served as the country’s prime minister from 2011 to 2018. During his article, he also made political references while discussing football, mentioning that he did not like “either the Devils or the reds,” a comment that appeared to refer both to Belgium’s national team nickname and Spain’s political left.
The controversy comes just days before France and Spain meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on July 15. The match between the two European football giants is expected to attract worldwide attention as both teams compete for a place in the tournament final.
The debate around France’s squad has also followed other controversial remarks during the tournament. Argentine politician Hebe Casado faced criticism after describing France as an “African team,” while Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla drew backlash over comments questioning Kylian Mbappe’s French identity.
Mbappe responded to Amarilla’s remarks by criticising them as unacceptable and highlighting the importance of respecting players’ national identities.
As France and Spain prepare for their crucial semi-final encounter, the controversy has added another layer of discussion around diversity, representation, and identity in international football.