France captain Kylian Mbappé called Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla 'despicable' and 'racist' after she referred to him as a 'colonised Cameroonian' on social media following France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. The French Football Federation also condemned the remarks.
The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its quarterfinals stage in its fourth week, with France defeating Paraguay and Morocco overcoming Canada to advance. The tournament is being hosted across North American venues including Mexico's Estadio Azteca and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
France defeated Paraguay in a contentious World Cup Round of 16 match in Philadelphia, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive penalty. The match was marked by physical play and controversial tactics from Paraguay that drew widespread criticism from commentators.
