Spain’s World Cup semi-final against France has become the focus of a political row after former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy claimed that the French squad contained no French players.

The comment appeared in a column published after Spain secured their place in the final four. It prompted condemnation from senior figures in both countries, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and members of the French government.

Rajoy questions French identity

According to Rajoy’s column in El Debate, France’s previous success and strong performances at the tournament make them a formidable opponent for Spain.

While assessing the team, however, Rajoy wrote:

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“It also has a squad of the highest level. That said, without Frenchmen. And it is playing very well. They will be a formidable opponent.”

The phrase “without Frenchmen” was widely interpreted as a reference to the ethnic backgrounds of several members of the French squad.

The claim is also factually inaccurate. As reported by El País, 23 of the 26 players in France’s World Cup squad were born in France. The remaining three were born abroad but hold French nationality.

Sánchez condemns ‘xenophobic’ statement

The reaction in Spain was led by Pedro Sánchez, who accused his predecessor of promoting an exclusionary definition of national identity.

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In a response quoted by El Debate, Sánchez said some people still judged whether someone belonged to a country by their surname, birthplace or skin colour.

Others, he said, measured belonging through a person’s connection to the country and willingness to contribute to it.

“Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements,” Sánchez said.

Addressing France ahead of the semi-final, he added:

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“May the best side win, and may racism lose.”

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also described Rajoy’s words as “hurtful and dangerous”, while stressing that the former prime minister’s position did not represent Spain.

French officials reject Rajoy’s claim

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the remark “absolutely unacceptable” and said it did not reflect the reality of France.

Nuñez defended France as a diverse country in which people should be able to find their place regardless of their background. He also warned that such language risked encouraging further racist abuse of French players.

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France’s embassy in Madrid issued its own response, stating that every member of the national team was French. It underlined that 23 players had been born in France and that the other three were also French citizens.

The controversy has shifted part of the attention away from the football ahead of a semi-final between two of the tournament’s leading sides.

France entered the match as two-time world champions and finalists in 2022, while Spain reached the last four after defeating Belgium. Instead of focusing solely on the contest, the build-up has now been dominated by a wider debate over race, nationality and who is considered entitled to represent a country.

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