The 2026 FIFA World Cup should be uniting the world as billions of soccer fans tune in to see which nation will be crowned champion. Instead, the treatment of Black stars like IShowSpeed and French captain Kylian Mbappé serves as a stark reminder: no matter how skilled you are, racism finds a way to resurface. But what’s equally clear is that Black athletes aren’t backing down.

Despite racist soccer fans trying to poison the beautiful game, the response from Black excellence has been resolute. IShowSpeed and his peers are proving that their greatness can’t be diminished by bigotry. Here’s what went down.

IShowSpeed Targeted With Racial Slurs During Live Streams

Since the tournament started, IShowSpeed has been streaming World Cup matches free to millions of viewers. After partnering with FIFA, Fox Sports, and YouTube, the content creator has racked up over 20 million views, making soccer accessible to fans who might otherwise miss the action.

That generosity didn’t protect him from abuse. During the Cape Verde vs. Argentina match on July 3, an Argentina supporter hurled racial slurs and monkey gestures at Speed. Days later, on July 7 during Egypt vs. Argentina, the same vile behavior repeated itself.

FIFA launched an investigation into the incident, stating that anyone undermining the sport’s values isn’t welcome. Meanwhile, Speed kept moving. He’s continued streaming to his 50 million subscribers, staying focused on his mission to bring soccer to low-income American families who can’t afford it otherwise. By Tuesday, over 1,500 people were already queued for his France vs. Morocco livestream.

Mbappé Fires Back at Paraguayan Senator

Kylian Mbappé is one of the world’s elite soccer players, but that status didn’t shield him from Paraguay senator Celeste Amarilla’s racist attack. In a now-deleted post, she wrote that Mbappé “grew up sucking on coconuts” and called him “resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly.”

Mbappé responded swiftly, calling her a “despicable woman and unworthy of her position.” Amarilla threatened legal action, but the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into her instead. She’s now facing potential fines up to $51,000 or a year in prison. French President Emmanuel Macron and the United Nations both issued statements backing the player.

The real story here is Mbappé’s performance. He’s already France’s all-time top goalscorer at the World Cup and is on pace to challenge Lionel Messi’s record for most World Cup goals ever. His play on the pitch has already rendered her words irrelevant.

Dutch Black Players Face Racist Attacks After Penalty Loss

On June 30, the Netherlands’ World Cup hopes came down to a penalty shootout against Morocco. They lost. What happened next was predictable and depressing: three Black players—Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, and Crysencio Summerville—were bombarded with thousands of racist comments on social media after missing their penalty kicks.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said his government would prosecute the racist fans, making clear such behavior won’t be tolerated. But here’s what actually matters: the Netherlands just set a record for the longest unbeaten run in full-time World Cup play with 14 matches. They achieved this with a roster led by Black captain Virgil van Dijk.

The narrative some wanted to push—that Black players failed—crumbles against the actual facts. These players didn’t drag the team down. They lifted it higher than ever before.

Racism at the World Cup isn’t going away tomorrow. But neither is Black excellence. And that’s what this tournament keeps proving.