Former Spanish PM Rajoy Criticized for Xenophobic Remark on French World Cup Team
Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has drawn sharp criticism for saying the France national team 'does not have any French players' in an opinion piece ahead of a World Cup semifinal.
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Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been widely condemned for making xenophobic remarks about the French national football team in an opinion column published ahead of a World Cup semifinal.
Rajoy, who served as Spain’s leader from 2011 to 2018, wrote in a piece for the Spanish outlet El Debate that the France national team “does not have any French players,” according to Al Jazeera. The comment sparked immediate backlash from French politicians and media outlets.
Complete Sports reported that several leading French politicians accused Rajoy of racism over the statement, which was published just before Tuesday’s semifinal match. The outlet described the remarks as “racist” and noted the controversy they generated across political and sporting circles.
Rajoy’s comment was not further contextualized in the available sources, but the reaction underscores sensitivities around national identity and diversity in international sports. The French team has long been noted for its multicultural composition, particularly in major tournaments.
No response from Rajoy was reported in the source material. The World Cup semifinal referenced in the reports took place in July 2026, during the ongoing tournament.