Chilavert: Paraguay to Face an African Team, Not France

Former Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert's comments have sparked widespread debate in France after he responded to criticism from former French star Christophe Dugarry regarding the Paraguayan national team, ahead of their anticipated clash in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Dugarry had dismissed Paraguay's ability to compete with France, asserting that the team would only focus on defense and would be unable to play attacking football, predicting a heavy defeat against the "Les Bleus."

Chilavert replied to these remarks on his social media accounts, stating: "Christophe, you are right. In the 1998 World Cup, we faced the French team, but now Paraguay will face an African team."

This statement has provoked angry reactions within French media circles, as it was perceived to carry racist implications regarding the French team, given the diverse backgrounds of many of its players.

Lequipe reported that Chilavert has previously stirred controversy, noting that he faced criticism last February for comments deemed racist and homophobic targeting Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, as well as French captain Kylian Mbappé.

This media crisis comes just hours before the highly anticipated match between France and Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 16, adding further tension to the atmosphere of the upcoming encounter.