French star Kylian Mbappé, forward for Real Madrid, has been targeted in a misinformation campaign involving a fabricated AI-generated video falsely claiming he refused to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States over human rights concerns.
The video circulated widely on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, featuring a supposed quote attributed to Mbappé saying, “I will not play in a country that treats people like animals,” alongside claims he criticized U.S. immigration policies. The clip amassed more than one million views, with captions suggesting he would boycott the tournament “no matter the cost.”
However, the claims are entirely false. The audio in the video was digitally generated using artificial intelligence, and there is no official statement from Mbappé supporting such remarks. Clear signs of manipulation are visible, including mismatched lip movements and an artificial-sounding voice.
Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that the footage actually originates from a press conference Mbappé held with the French national team ahead of their third-place match against Germany in the 2025 UEFA Nations League. The original video was published on June 7, 2025, by Diario AS.
During that press conference, Mbappé spoke about Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League triumph, describing it as “100% deserved.” He made no reference to the 2026 World Cup or to the United States.
There is also no record in any credible media outlet of Mbappé announcing a boycott of the tournament or criticizing U.S. immigration policy, confirming that the viral clip is part of a coordinated disinformation effort.
