Does France’s World Cup Win Improve Views on Immigration?

With roots and Cameroon and Algeria, the young star Kylian Mbappe made history, becoming the first teenager to score in a World Cup final match since 1958 (when a young Pele received the accolade). At 19, Kylian Mbappe is now a World Cup winner and a global superstar. Mbappe,  along with soccer stars Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, has rightfully become a major headline since the victory. Yet, perhaps the biggest discussion surrounding these athletes involves their heritage more so than their actual athletic prowess. Mbappe, Pogba and Kante are all children of African immigrants. In fact, the core of the team, at least 15 players, have African roots—a detail celebrated by many among the African diaspora.

But given the long-standing (and growing) anti-immigrant sentiments in France, the U.S. and throughout the globe,  the question on everyone’s mind is will this win improve views on immigration.