2026 World Cup, France vs. Spain: The Focus Shifts to the Field, but the Controversy Rages On

France and Spain are battling it out for a spot in the 2026 World Cup final: for Les Bleus, it would be their fourth final, following their victories in 1998 and 2018 and their loss in 2022; for La Roja, it would be their second, sixteen years after their 2010 triumph. This matchup promises to be a showcase of great soccer, pitting generational talents like Mbappé and Lamine Yamal against each other, both ready to steal the spotlight.

Instead of building anticipation by focusing on the sporting aspect, the run-up to the match has turned into a political and diplomatic controversy. The tension was ignited by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in an op-ed for “El Debate.” Commenting on the French national team, he described Les Bleus as “a top-tier team,” but added a remark that immediately sparked a firestorm: “They don’t have a single French player in their ranks.”

Reactions from Paris were extremely harsh. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon called the remarks “clearly racist,” while the French embassy in Madrid pointed out that all the players called up are French citizens and that 23 of the 26 players were born in France. Politicians closed ranks, rejecting Rajoy’s views across the political spectrum.

The Spanish government also reacted firmly: Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares made it clear that those words do not represent Spain, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted a very clear message on X: “Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it, not to those who dishonor it with xenophobic statements. We hope that between France and Spain, the best team wins—but above all, that racism loses.”