The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America saw off-field drama on July 6, as France striker Kylian Mbappé condemned racist remarks from a Paraguayan politician, while Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed this tournament would be his last World Cup.
France secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia, with Mbappé scoring a penalty to send his side into the quarter-finals.
After the match, Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla posted a racist tirade on social media targeting Mbappé, calling him a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French” and a “brute”.
Mbappé responded with a formal statement, calling Amarilla “a despicable woman and unworthy of your position”.
He added: “You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.”
The French captain also criticised how the remarks overshadowed the performance of the Paraguayan team.
The French Football Federation (FFF) announced it would take legal action, stating: “These remarks are criminal and reprehensible.
They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings.”
The federation earlier condemned the comments as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.
Balogun Eligibility Controversy
The United States national team prepared to face Belgium in the round of 16 after FIFA cleared striker Folarin Balogun to play.
The decision followed reports that US President Donald Trump lobbied FIFA President Gianni Infantino to overturn a red card suspension, drawing criticism from international media.
The Telegraph wrote: “So far it has been a great tournament with packed stadiums, excellent football and several upsets… But this scandal threatens to tarnish what might otherwise have been a signal success for America.”
The publication called for Infantino’s resignation.
FIFA dismissed an appeal from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) regarding Balogun’s eligibility, stating the RBFA was not a party to the proceedings and had no standing to appeal.
The RBFA expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, noting it had still not received grounds for the decision.
Infantino defended the process, saying he spoke with Trump but that independent bodies handled the case.
“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,” he said.
Ronaldo Confirms Final World Cup
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, confirmed that the 2026 tournament would be his last World Cup appearance.
“I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes,” he said.
He dismissed questions about permanent retirement, adding: “I’ll retire when I want to, not when you want me to.”
Portugal faced Spain in the round of 16, with the match scoreless at halftime.
Meanwhile, England midfielder Jordan Henderson was ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to a forearm injury requiring surgery.
