Spain’s conservative former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faced criticism at home and in France on Sunday (July 12, 2026) after saying the neighbouring country’s national football team had “no French players”.

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The comment, published in an opinion piece in Spanish online news site El Debate, came as Spain prepares to face France on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final.

Spain’s current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the remark as “xenophobic”.

“There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin colour. Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it,” the Socialist leader wrote on X.

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

Transport Minister Oscar Puente dismissed Mr. Rajoy as a “post-Franco idiot”.

French politicians have also lashed out at Mr. Rajoy’s comment.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told French channel BFMTV that Mr. Rajoy’s comment was “absolutely unacceptable”.

Communist party leader Fabien Roussel compared Mr. Rajoy’s comment to widely criticised remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla, who said after Paraguay’s elimination by France in the round of 16 that star player Kylian Mbappe was a “colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French”.

“They just can’t stop themselves from slinging this disgusting racism,” said Mr. Roussel.

Aurore Berge, Minister against Discrimination, also denounced the “repeated racist outbursts”.

She added: “It’s time they stopped and that sport becomes sport again: a place where you are judged on your talent and by no other criteria.”

‘Racist obsessions’

Naima Moutchou, France’s Minister for Overseas Territories, called the comments evidence of “systematic and widespread hatred of France and what the nation is”.

“Every time Les Bleus win, the same racist obsessions and insults re-emerge,” she said.

France “has no skin colour or religion”, said French Socialist party leader Olivier Faure on X.

France’s embassy in Madrid also responded in a post to social media.

“All the players of the French team are French. Of 26 players, 23 were born in France. The three who were born abroad are also French.”

And Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, said Mr. Rajoy’s comments carried an “intolerable undertone of racism”, in a post on social media.

France star Kylian Mbappé on Monday (July 6, 2026) condemned a Paraguayan senator over racist remarks she made following Paraguay’s loss to France in the round of 16 at the World Cup.

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Mbappé called Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay’s Congress.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup,” Mbappé wrote on X.

Amarilla posted a series of racist comments on X after Mbappé converted the winning penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday (July 4, 2026), mocking the French captain’s origins, upbringing, education and appearance. France advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will face Morocco on Thursday.

Late Monday (July 6, 2026), Amarilla issued an open letter in French and Spanish to Mbappé on social media, in which she said her problem was with the player, not the country of France. She wrote that she regretted mistreating Mbappé with “the same insults” she’s received as a mixed-race person and that she had deleted her post.

But she also demanded an apology from Mbappé, accusing him of gender-based violence in his comments about her, and threatening legal action if he didn’t retract them.

The Associated Press emailed France’s team media officers for comment on Amarilla’s letter.

The Paraguayan government released a statement Monday (July 6, 2026) afternoon condemning Amarilla’s remarks as “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.” It added that the senator’s comments do not represent either the Paraguayan government or the Paraguayan people.

The French Football Federation on Monday (July 6, 2026) denounced Amarilla’s comments as “utterly abhorrent” and “unacceptable,” adding that it would refer the matter to prosecutors.

France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari voiced support for the national team’s captain.

“By targeting Kylian Mbappé, the senator is attacking everything our captain embodies and everything our country stands for: liberty, equality and fraternity,” Ferrari wrote on X.

“One more goal for Kylian Mbappé. This time against racism,” Macron wrote on X, adding the captain had his “full support.” France’s assistant coach Guy Stéphan also condemned the remarks on Monday.

“In three words, it’s indignant, abject, scandalous,” he said.

Before Saturday’s (July 4, 2026) match, former Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert referred to France as “a squad from Africa.” Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, said Chilavert “was once a great goalkeeper” who had now “fallen into disgrace.”

The United States’ World Cup dreams came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium on ​Monday (July 6, 2026) as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in a 4-1 win overshadowed by FIFA’s ‌controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s ban.

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De Ketelaere gave ​Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a simple ⁠tap-in, taking full advantage of a nervous start by the U.S. to quickly deflate the partisan crowd.

Malik Tillman equalised in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick which ‌wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois, but De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s lead little more than a minute later with a back-post header.

The U.S. played ‌with more authority after the break until a calamitous error from goalkeeper ‌Matt ⁠Freese allowed substitute Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th ⁠minute, irreversibly shifting the momentum in a stunned Seattle Stadium.

Romelu Lukaku then added a fourth in added time to send U.S. fans streaming for the exits and Belgium into the quarter-finals ​for the third time in the ‌last four World Cups. They will play European champions Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.

BALOGUN LACKS IMPACT FOR U.S.

The build-up was dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprecedented intervention before Balogun’s one-match ban for a red ‌card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was suspended, but the 25-year-old could barely ​get into the game.

The U.S. struggled with Belgium’s intensity from the start and, with the crowd still going through their ⁠first chant of “U-S-A!”, Timothy Castagne forced Freese into a fingertip save.

Belgium should have been ahead after a brilliant run from Dodi Lukebakio — impressive in place of Jeremy ‌Doku — produced a great chance for Youri Tielemans, who totally missed his shot.

The co-hosts did not learn their lesson, though, and a minute later De Ketelaere tapped home Nicolas Raskin’s cross after the U.S. failed to clear their lines.

The U.S. looked stunned and were grateful for the hydration break, levelling shortly after the resumption when Balogun won a free kick in a dangerous ‌position.

Tillman’s effort took a wicked deflection off the forehead of Vanaken, an early substitute for ​the injured Amadou Onana, which gave Courtois no chance.

But the U.S. swiftly conceded another cheap goal, with Leandro Trossard standing up ⁠a simple cross for De Ketelaere to outmuscle Tim Ream and head home.

The U.S. ⁠looked more composed after the break, but any hopes of a comeback were shattered when Freese dawdled on the ball out of ‌his goal and gave Vanaken a shot at an open goal.

And the game had long since petered out when Lukaku bagged his seventh career ​World Cup goal and 93rd for Belgium with a cool finish.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan broke away from discussing his team’s upcoming World Cup round of 16 match against Argentina to give an impassioned monologue about the plight of the Palestinian people.

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Hassan, who waved a Palestinian flag after Egypt’s victory over Australia in the last round, spoke for more than four minutes on the subject on Monday and was applauded by many of the assembled media.

“If there is anyone in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they are not human — whether they are Arab, European, or American,” Hassan said at a news conference to preview Egypt’s game against defending champion Argentina on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).

More than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, largely displaced and living amid ruins, face uncertainty after the Israel-Palestine conflict began on Oct 7, 2023. Israel’s attacks have killed a total of 73,066 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

“Everywhere in the world, including in Europe or America, if someone hurts an animal, we see animal rights being defended and the whole world reacts,” Hassan said. “It has become normal to hear that two or three thousand people die in a single day because of a missile.”

The war has sparked pro-Palestinian protests around the world, with athletes — including Spain’s Lamine Yamal — showing their support.

FIFA said it is permitted to display the Palestinian flag at the World Cup.

“Regardless of religion. … I am a human before being Arab or anything else. My message, through football, is this: Please, just as FIFA’s slogan calls for respect among us, I hope there will be respect for people’s right to live,” Hassan said.

With a win over Argentina, Egypt would reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

“My dreams have no limits. My ambitions have no limits. I promise that we will do everything to live up to the expectations [of fans],” Hassan said. “We’re no underdogs. We’re big in every respect. We are a civilisation that is 7,000 years old, even more than 7,000 years.”

Saying Portugal’s national team needs “a new voice,” manager Roberto Martinez confirmed he is stepping down after the 1-0 loss to Spain on Monday (July 7, 2026) in their round of 16 ​match in Arlington, Texas.

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Martinez has coached Portugal since 2023 and planned to leave his post after the team’s run to what he hoped would be a World Cup championship. His contract was due to expire after the tournament.

“Yes, this is ⁠my last game with the national team,” said Martinez, a native of Spain who turns 53 on July 13. “I’m proud. I’ve had 45 games, and I felt welcomed in Portugal and loved. It’s ‌a memory I’ll take with me always.

“It was a pleasure, a source of pride and responsibility. It’s hard, but it’s the end of a ‌cycle, and in the context it makes absolute sense.”

Martinez said, “It’s important to have ‌a new voice now” and added that it was fair for Portuguese Football ⁠Federation president Pedro Proenca, who was appointed last year, to be able to choose his own manager.

“I want to thank the president and the board for their support and for providing me and my coaching ​staff with all the necessary conditions,” Martinez ‌said. “I appreciate their strength and support, but it is the end of a cycle.”

Portugal is a co-host of the 2030 World Cup along with Spain and Morocco and is automatically qualified.

Martinez managed Belgium’s national team from 2016-22 and also coached Everton, Swansea ‌City and Wigan Athletic. He led Portugal to the 2024 European Championship quarterfinals, ​then the UEFA Nations League title in June 2025.

Portugal finished second in this World Cup in Group K, going 1-0-2 (5 points) with a ⁠5-0 win over Uzbekistan and draws against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1-1) and group winner Colombia (0-0).

Last Thursday (July 2, 2026), Portugal held off Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32 before elimination ‌on Monday (July 6), which also marked the final World Cup game for legendary attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, 41.

“We didn’t fail,” Martinez said. “We lost a game against a team that’s one of the favorites. We showed incredible individual talent. Winning or losing is about details in the big games, with big teams. … You fail when you don’t try to win, and we tried to win until the last minute.”

Martinez said to those thinking Ronaldo should have ‌been subbed for late in the game that he was physically capable of playing at least 90 ​minutes and delivering the needed goal.

“This is not the time to look for anything beyond the fact that we are talking about a football icon,” ⁠Martinez said of Ronaldo.

“There aren’t many Cristiano Ronaldos. I will forever appreciate what he ⁠tried to do in this World Cup, because his dream was to win it. He was an incredible example of a captain, both on a footballing ‌level and a human level.

“His impact inside the dressing room and within the group of players is something the entire coaching staff and all the players will ​carry with us forever. He is an example of football, of an athlete and of the human being behind the athlete.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sometimes playful banter in a rare World Cup news conference ended in an exchange between Portugal’s superstar and a reporter from Argentina.

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Ronaldo took the moment on the eve of a round of 16 clash with border rival Spain to repeat something he has said at least once before.

This sixth World Cup for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star will be his last.

“What remains with me is the people — the people who love you. I share hotels with the staff, Latino people, and those are spectacular memories. Yesterday on the flight, there was an Argentine flight attendant. And knew she was Argentine by the way she looked at me: I knew you were Argentine by the way you looked at me. If you look away quickly, it means you don’t like Cristiano,’” Ronaldo said through an interpreter on Sunday (July 5, 2026), breaking into a smile.

“I want to enjoy what will be my last World Cup to the fullest,” Ronaldo continued. “Hopefully, tomorrow won’t be my last match. That way, you can keep bashing me some more.”

Ronaldo made similar comments in a television interview late last year, a few months after Portugal won the UEFA Nations League title with a riveting victory over Spain in a penalty shootout.

Many of the questions for the 41-year-old during a 25-minute session at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys referred to what everybody in the packed room was assuming: This was it for Ronaldo.

Before the end, he joked with reporters that they were pushing him out the door. Just about every time he did, though, he would turn philosophical.

“There’s nothing missing,” Ronaldo said. “God was so generous toward me. He gave me everything I never expected to win, especially at the national team. And personally, the same thing. So it’s enjoying every moment. I’m not going to be more Cristiano or less Cristiano because I win the World Cup. Of course, we all have hopes, myself especially, and we all want all the conditions to win. But we know that only one is going to win.”

Ronaldo’s World Cup finale — whenever it ends — will come eight years after he was the oldest to record a World Cup hat trick at 33. That was in a 3-3 draw with Spain in the group-stage opener, when both soccer powers didn’t advance to the knockout stage.

Portugal is trying for a second consecutive trip to the quarterfinals. The only other time Portugal went deeper was a semifinal run in Ronaldo’s World Cup debut in 2006.

Ronaldo had the tying goal in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia in the round of 32. Three of his 11 World Cup goals have come in this tournament. It was a matchup of 40-somethings against Croatia’s Luka Modric, who was in his fifth World Cup at 40.

“What I have done throughout my career is to adjust to the nuances of age, knowing that I’m not the player I used to be,” Ronaldo said. “But one thing I can understand very clearly is nothing has changed because I can still score a goal. I hope I do that tomorrow, and if I don’t, I hope others on the team do.”

Sebastián Beccacece has stepped down as coach of Ecuador following World Cup elimination.

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The 45-year-old Argentine confirmed it after Tuesday (July 1, 2026) night’s 2-0 defeat to host Mexico.

“My contract has to end with the end of the World Cup. For us, we are leaving now,” Beccacece said. “I believe the dressing room is full of brotherhood. I’m taking the love, respect, commitment and admiration from the boys, from this group of warriors, the Ecuadorian national team.”

Beccacece was in charge for two years. He led Ecuador, which was making its fifth World Cup appearance, to the knockout round for just the second time after a memorable win over four-time champion Germany in the group stage.

After that match, Beccacece made a beeline for the stands and climbed up from the field to embrace his wife and other loved ones while yellow-clad fans around him patted him on the back and tens of thousands more around the stadium jumped and cheered.

“When we started this journey there wasn’t much hope, there wasn’t much of an expectation of us getting here. But we made it, we exceeded certain expectations,” Beccacece said. “But we couldn’t match the feat.”

First-half goals from Mexico’s Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez ended Ecuador’s tournament run.

“We have built a beautiful legacy and had to undergo a journey with dignity, honesty and transparency,” Beccacece said. “The outcomes we have fulfilled as of today, and now the technical staff will have to find a different path.”

In ‌an expanded World Cup intended to spread the soccer spotlight wider than ever, ​Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have already delivered the star power FIFA, broadcasters ⁠and the American audience crave, with Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal playing compelling supporting roles.

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If there is one thing the U.S. loves, it is the gravitational pull of a superstar, with the ‌American Dream built on the premise that an individual, armed with talent and charisma, can climb above the rest and carry the whole show.

Messi has risen to ‌the challenge in style to become the all-time World Cup record scorer, two games into ‌the ⁠tournament. The almost 39-year-old netted a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria ⁠and picked up where he left off on Monday (June 23, 2026), when even a penalty miss failed to dim the sense that he is intent on enjoying what is almost certainly his last World Cup. Messi again scored both Argentina’s goals in ​the 2-0 victory over Austria to take ‌his tally to 18, and France’s Mbappe is closing in fast.

ONE STAR TURN INSPIRES ANOTHER

Mbappe netted twice when France beat Senegal 3-1 and two more in Monday’s (June 22, 2026) 3-0 win over Iraq to sit two goals behind Messi on the all-time list.

After a difficult season, the ‌27-year-old Real Madrid forward is back playing with a smile on his face and ​a real spring in his step. Spain struggled without Yamal in the scoreless draw against Cape Verde, but on Sunday (June 21, 2026) the 18-year-old started his first game ⁠in two months and the sense of anticipation was palpable inside Atlanta Stadium. The crowd were on their feet as Yamal netted the opening goal to inspire Spain in a 4-0 win over ‌Saudi Arabia.

Spain’s job was done by halftime, allowing them to replace Yamal, who played with the abandon of someone who does not feel the weight of a nation’s expectations on his young shoulders.

Messi made his World Cup debut in 2006, and 20 years later, wearing the same number 19 jersey, Yamal appears ready to inherit the mantle. Norway’s Haaland has shaken off the pressure to perform in his first World Cup with four goals in two games. Haaland netted a double ‌in the 4-1 win over Iraq and repeated the trick in Monday’s (June 22, 2026) 3-2 victory against Senegal. Haaland and Mbappe ​will face off on Friday (June 26, 2026) when Norway and France battle for Group I supremacy, and the prolific forwards will continue their fight to rule the scoring charts.

Kane’s ⁠two goals against Croatia took him level with Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals for England, ⁠and the Golden Boot race is already a thrilling sideshow.

Mbappe and Messi dominated the tournament four years ago. Mbappe was top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi, ‌but the Argentine lifted the trophy after a final in which the Frenchman’s hat-trick was not enough.

At this stage, a repeat final is looking a real possibility, but this World ​Cup could unearth a new hero in a land where audiences instinctively embrace the emergence of young talent.