The controversial chant by River Plate fans highlighted the complex and sometimes contentious issues surrounding national identity and representation in modern international football. As the roar of the crowd echoed through the stadium, the lyrics cut to the heart of ongoing debates about immigration, multiculturalism and who can claim allegiance to the national team. “They play for France, but they’re all from Angola. Their mother is Nigerian and their father is Cameroonian, but on their passports they’re French.” These words speak volumes about the lived experiences of many of the players on the French national team, whose diverse backgrounds and family histories challenge traditional notions of national belonging.
In a country with a colonial past and ongoing integration struggles, the fans’ message taps into deeper societal tensions. For some, the presence of so-called “foreign-born” players on the national team represents a dilution of French identity, a betrayal of the nation’s cultural heritage. But for others, this diversity is a strength, a reflection of France’s evolution into a multicultural society. References to Kylian Mbappé’s personal relationships have further complicated the narrative. As one of the brightest stars on the French national team, Mbappé’s life off the pitch has come under intense public scrutiny. The inclusion of details about his romantic involvement with a transgender model has been seen by many as an attempt to undermine his legitimacy and masculinity—a thinly veiled attack on the player’s character and identity.
These types of chants are nothing new in the world of football, where passionate fans often use the sport as a platform to express their political and social views. But in the case of River Plate’s supporters, their words struck a chord, resonating far beyond the confines of the stadium. They tapped into a complex set of issues that continue to shape national debate in France and beyond. At the heart of it all is the question of who gets to define national identity in an increasingly globalised world. As the demographics of countries shift, traditional markers of citizenship and belonging are being challenged and redefined.
The French national team, with its diverse roster of players, has become a microcosm of this broader societal shift, sparking debates about representation, inclusion, and the very nature of national identity. For River Plate fans, their chant was a statement of defiance, a rejection of what they saw as a dilution of French identity. But for many others, it is a troubling reminder of the ongoing struggle to create a more inclusive and equitable society, one that celebrates diversity and recognizes the various paths to national allegiance.
The controversial chant performed by Argentina’s national team players after their triumph in the 2024 Copa América final highlighted the intersection of international football, national identity, and the complex realities of migration and representation. As euphoric celebrations unfolded on the pitch, unsavoury lyrics cut through the joyous atmosphere, revealing the deep-rooted tensions that continue to simmer beneath the surface of the beautiful game. “They play for France, but they all come from Angola.” These words, spoken by midfielder Enzo Fernández as he led his teammates in a live broadcast on social media, speak volumes about ongoing debates around national allegiance and the fluid nature of modern identity. At a time when the demographics of national teams have become increasingly diverse, reflecting the reality of globalization and mass migration, the chant of the Argentine players represented a categorical rejection of this new paradigm.
At the heart of the issue is the question of who defines national identity and what it truly means to “belong” to a country. For the Argentine players, the presence of players of African descent on the French team seemed to challenge their conception of the French nation, a vision rooted in more traditional, ethnically homogenous notions of belonging. Their chant was a bold assertion of a contrasting point of view—one that sought to eliminate the “Frenchness” of these players, insisting that their true national allegiance lay elsewhere.
This incident is not an isolated event, but rather the latest chapter in a long and fraught history of national teams grappling with the complexities of representation and identity. From ongoing debates over the eligibility of dual-national players to the ongoing challenges of integrating immigrant communities into the national sporting fabric, the world of international soccer has become a battleground for broader societal struggles over belonging and inclusion. That the chant emerged in the context of the Copa América final, a tournament that showcases the strength and diversity of Latin American soccer, only underscores the global nature of these debates. The Argentine players, fresh off a hard-fought victory, seemed to be using their platform to amplify a message that resonated with a certain segment of their fan base—one that views the multicultural makeup of rival national teams as a threat to their own national pride.
But this kind of narrow, exclusionary nationalism is not the only perspective at play. For many others, the diversity of modern national teams is a source of strength, reflecting the increasingly interconnected and globalized world in which we live. These voices argue that true national identity is not a matter of rigid ethnic or cultural purity, but rather a malleable and inclusive concept that embraces the contributions of all who call a country home.
