Racism and Misinformation Surge During FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals

Published on
09/07/2026 – 10:17 GMT+2

The FIFA World Cup quarter-finals are underway, and as team tensions escalate, so does the spread of misinformation online, often rooted in racist narratives targeting eliminated European teams.

AI-generated deepfakes, fabricated claims, and fake news reports have proliferated across platforms in recent weeks, frequently carrying overtly racist messages. For instance, a TikTok video falsely depicted Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman delivering a racist rant after his team’s elimination by Morocco in a penalty shootout on 30 June. The clip garnered over three million views and widespread sharing, though it originated from an account explicitly labeled as an AI football page and included on-screen disclaimers about artificial generation.

Similarly, posts circulated alleging that German fans had launched a petition to exclude Black and Muslim players from Germany’s national team following their elimination by Paraguay on 29 June. These posts cited German media outlet Deutsche Welle as a source but offered no verifiable evidence. The fabricated story targeted Jonathan Tah, the defender who missed a decisive penalty.

These hoaxes coexist with verified incidents of racism that have drawn global condemnation. The most prominent involves French footballer Kylian Mbappé and Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla. After France defeated Paraguay 1-0 on 4 July, Amarilla posted a derogatory message on X accusing Mbappé of falsely claiming French identity while being a “colonized Cameroonian.” Mbappé retaliated, calling her a “despicable woman” for not representing Paraguay’s values.

Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly rejected Amarilla’s remarks, reaffirming its commitment to human rights and anti-discrimination efforts. In a later statement, Amarilla claimed regret over her words while defending her frustration with Mbappé’s perceived arrogance and failure to shake hands with Paraguay’s goalkeeper. The 90-minute match, marked by physical confrontations and attempts to disrupt the penalty spot, saw Mbappé’s decisive goal spark widespread criticism of Paraguay’s tactics as unsportsmanlike.

International bodies and institutions condemned the attack. UN Human Rights called Amarilla’s comments “despicable” and “not isolated,” while Real Madrid—Mbappé’s club—expressed “strongest condemnation of the deplorable racist and xenophobic remarks.” President Emmanuel Macron supported Mbappé, emphasizing French values of “dignity, respect, and fraternity.” French prosecutors have since launched an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred following a complaint from the French Football Federation.

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