Thirteen teams responded to Ceferin’s ‘uninteresting World Cup’ comment

Thirteen World Cup nations have condemned UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin for comments he made about the quality of the World Cup in the run-up to the tournament.

According to Ceferin, the expanded World Cup with 48 teams would lead to ‘uninteresting matches’ because of the reduced competition.

Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Congo, Curacao, Uzbekistan and Haiti wrote a joint statement rejecting Ceferin’s comments.

“For our countries there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match.

“For Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, qualifying for the FIFA World Cup represents a historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations.

“For countries like Congo and Haiti, the return to football’s biggest stage after a long absence has special meaning for millions of supporters who have waited years, and in some cases decades, for this moment.

“To suggest that these matches are somehow less important is deeply disappointing and ignores the efforts, sacrifices and ambitions of players, coaches, clubs, football leaders and supporters around the world.

“Behind every qualification are years of work and investment. Behind every national team are entire communities and millions of people who see football as a source of pride, hope and unity.

“Football does not belong to a select group of countries. Its strength comes from its universality. The FIFA World Cup is the world’s biggest football competition precisely because it brings together different cultures, different histories and different football journeys.

“For many countries, participating in the FIFA World Cup is not just a sporting achievement. It is a moment that inspires a generation, accelerates football development and creates memories that will last a lifetime.

«We believe that every country that qualifies deserves respect. Every team has earned its place based on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream. Every match has meaning for millions of people around the world.»

“We therefore reject the comments made by the President of UEFA and reaffirm our belief that the growth of football must continue to create opportunities, inspire new generations and strengthen the truly global character of our game.”

Published on June 15, 2026