France’s far right didn’t drop its grudge against Les Bleus. It recast it.

France’s far-right National Rally party has shifted its rhetoric about the national football team, Les Bleus, from criticizing their racial diversity to emphasizing working-class solidarity, reflecting broader efforts to moderate its image. Former leader Jean-Marie Le Pen and his daughter Marine initially dismissed the team as un-French, but the party now avoids overt criticism as the team gains national pride. This evolution aligns with the party’s rebranding from National Front to National Rally.