2026 World Cup: Former Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy criticizes French team

With only three days left until the World Cup semi-final match between France and Spain, a controversial statement has come from former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Rajoy grabbed the headlines by claiming that the French national team has a "non-French" squad on the pitch.

This outburst caused a huge wave of backlash in both countries and sparked anger on both sides of the Pyrenees. Rajoy's words reignited the ongoing debates, particularly regarding the origins and player diversity of the French team.

The upcoming semi-final match already held great excitement due to the historic rivalry between the two strong football competitors. Rajoy's politically and identity-focused comments transcended the sporting dimension of the encounter, paving the way for a social debate.