Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 20:55 / Updated Tuesday, 12 May 2026 20:55
In a tense moment at Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe (27 years old) decided to address political and social issues again in an interview with the American magazine Vanity Fair, where he spoke both about the atmosphere in the United States of America, just a few weeks before the World Championship, and about the situation in France during the 2024 legislative elections.
France is in Group I of this year's World Cup, along with Norway, Senegal and Iraq.
Kylian Mbappe commented on the situation in the USA before the World Cup: “There would probably be surprises”
Asked about the organization of the World Cup by the United States, Canada and Mexico, in a context of concerns about the North American political climate, the captain of the French national team showed confidence in FIFA's decision.
“I don't have the knowledge to know what it takes to organize a World Championship. If I were asked to organize a World Cup, there would probably be surprises. If FIFA has decided that it has to take place in the United States, it is because they think that everything is manageable and that we can come here“.
Mbappe took the opportunity to recall the run-up to the 2024 French legislative elections, when several French national team players expressed concern over the rise of the far-right in the country.
The French international explained why he felt the need to take a public stance: “That shocked us. We're citizens and we couldn't just sit back, pretend everything's going to be fine and go play football. We have to fight the idea that a footballer just has to play and shut up.”
“We are not disconnected from what is happening in our country. People think that because we have money or are famous, these kinds of problems don't affect us. But they affect me. I know what it means to my country when such people come to power,” he added.
In the interview, Mbappe also spoke about criticism of some French players because of their origins. “We are French. The French like to complain. So French people who judge French people end up with that,” he commented, before striking a more optimistic note: “I think the new generation is trying to change that mentality.”
