José Luis Chilavert sparks controversy with racist remark about France before World Cup match
Former Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert responded on X to former France striker Christophe Dugarry’s criticism of Paraguay ahead of their round‑of‑16 clash at the 2026 World Cup. Dugarry had said Paraguay would be “humiliated, mass‑crushed” and called the team “incapable”. Chilavert replied, calling the French side a “selection of Africa” and referencing the 1998 World Cup when France eliminated Paraguay.
The comment was widely described as racist and provoked backlash on social media and in the press. Media outlets noted that Chilavert has previously made discriminatory remarks about players such as Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. The Paraguay‑France match is set for Saturday 4 July 2026 at Philadelphia Stadium.
The incident underscores the heightened tensions surrounding the tournament and has revived scrutiny of Chilavert’s history of controversial statements.