Mariano Rajoy's comments on French team spark backlash amid World Cup semis
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 13, 2026, 9:54 AM
Last updated Jul 13, 2026
Mariano Rajoy, former Spanish Prime Minister, faced criticism for stating that France's men's national soccer team "does not have any French players." His comments were made in a column before the World Cup semifinal against Spain. Current PM Pedro Sánchez condemned Rajoy's statement, emphasizing that national identity should not be based on ethnicity. France has been performing well in the tournament and is currently ranked No. 1 in FIFA rankings. The semifinal match is scheduled for Tuesday.
- •Rajoy criticized France's diverse roster ahead of World Cup semifinal.
- •Pedro Sánchez condemned Rajoy's xenophobic statements online.
- •France's national team is historically successful and currently ranked No. 1.
- •The semifinal match is set for Tuesday between France and Spain.
- 9:54 AMYahoo Sports — Conservative Ex-Spanish PM's World Cup Column Ignites Racism Row
"Mariano Rajoy has drawn backlash after claiming France's men's national soccer team "does not have any French players."
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