French Politics and the World Cup

When I heard that the World Cup was going to take place during my study abroad in Paris, I was excited to be able to cheer on the French team. I didn't have very high expectations—the last time France won was 20 years ago. So, I was ecstatic when the team made it to the finals. My host brother and I went to the Champs-Elysee to celebrate. Although I’m not usually a big sports fan, as fireworks and flares lit the sky, World Cup fever caught me up like everyone else.

During the week leading up to the final match, I experienced an incredible closeness with France. The French team’s victory made everyone feel like they belonged to something greater. My host brother taught me the cheers—and jeers—so I could support the team with everyone else. My host dad even remarked that during the final, I was as much of a Frenchman as they were.

It was an incredible experience to be able to see France unite and celebrate their victory in the World Cup. From what my host family told me, the only time France ever shows so much national pride is during the World Cup; I've never seen more French flags flying than during the few days after the country's win. It brought people together like nothing else did, especially given the makeup of the team, which was one of the most diverse in recent years.

Many players on the team have their roots in Francophone African or Caribbean countries, and it was incredibly heartening to see such undivided support given the xenophobic—and at times racist—rhetoric that has dominated recent European elections. During France's first World Cup win, the team composition was much the same; in fact, they were called the "Black, White, Beur," with Beur representing those of Maghrebi descent.

And yet, within this solidarity I could see hints of the underlying tensions as well. In class, we discussed Trevor Noah's humorous "Africa won the World Cup" line, as well as the French ambassador to the United State’s rebuttal. In his letter, he claimed that to call those on the team African instead of French undermined their French identity and gave legitimacy to the racist idea that to be French is also to be white. I was surprised at the strength of his rebuttal, but he did have valid points.

Part of the problem has to do with the difference in approach to immigration—France has long had a policy of assimilation, where immigrants become "French," while in the U.S., immigrants generally integrate into society while maintaining their own culture. In France, Trevor Noah's remarks were widely criticized, but they did help expose the tensions that weren’t apparent at first glance.

Although it may not be as easy to see, the events surrounding France's victory at the World Cup do reflect the deeper, underlying tensions that continue to exist on the questions of what it means to be French and how France treats its African immigrants. I don't think that either France or the U.S. is more successful than the other—they have different approaches, and each has its challenges, but being able to understand how the French think about what it means to be French is important to understanding French society. Although there will likely always be tensions, the fact that such a diverse team is able to capture the world’s imagination is encouragement enough.