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.
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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.
