Paraguayan senator mocks France's World Cup 2026 elimination, under investigation in Paris

Celeste Amarilla did not wait for the night to end before reacting. Moments after Spain’s qualification at France’s expense (2-0) in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, the Paraguayan opposition senator posted on X the message “Spain 2 France 0”, accompanied by a mocking GIF, before resharing several posts ridiculing the Blues’ defeat.

Among the messages relayed, one of them joked about the date of the elimination: “Goodbye France! And precisely on July 14: liberty, equality, fraternity and… eliminated!” Another read: “France lost, goodbye Mbappé; tomorrow, public holiday and barbecue at @CelesteSenadora”.

These new provocations come in an already tense legal context for the elected official. The Paris prosecutor’s office had opened an investigation following a complaint from the French Football Federation over racist remarks made by Amarilla against Kylian Mbappé during the round of 16 match between France and Paraguay. The charges include aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred.

The FFF had then described her statements as “abject and unacceptable”. Kylian Mbappé, Emmanuel Macron, FIFA and the Paraguayan government had each strongly condemned the senator’s remarks.