French Embassy in Spain Responds to Mariano Rajoy’s Controversial Remarks Ahead of World Cup Semi-final

The French Embassy in Spain has publicly responded to controversial comments made by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, after he questioned the identity of France’s national football team in a newspaper column ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between Spain and France.

1. Rajoy sparked outrage when he wrote that France has “a top-level squad, but without French players,” a statement widely interpreted as questioning the nationality of players with immigrant backgrounds. The remarks drew swift criticism from politicians and football fans across Europe, with many describing them as racist and xenophobic.

The Guardian +1

In a calm but firm response, the French Embassy in Spain issued a statement emphasizing the facts rather than engaging in political confrontation. The embassy said:

“Without wishing to spark a controversy, it is worth recalling the facts: All the players on the French national team are French. Of the 26 players, 23 were born in France. The three who were born abroad are also French.”