UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has faced a strong backlash from 13 World Cup nations following reports he described some matches in the expanded 2026 tournament as 'uninteresting'. A joint statement, released on Sunday, conveyed 'profound disappointment' from football associations including Cape Verde, Curacao, Uzbekistan, DR Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and South Africa.
Ceferin's alleged comments were made during a conference in his native Slovenia, where he reportedly suggested that the increase from 32 to 48 teams for the upcoming finals in the USA, Mexico, and Canada would result in less attractive fixtures. A Slovenian news outlet quoted him as saying, "We have a lot of matches that are completely uninteresting," though he also acknowledged that "even small countries can participate and feel the pulse of the World Cup, which is a big thing."
The nations, many of whom stand to benefit from the increased qualification spots, firmly rejected these sentiments. Their statement declared, "We respectfully but firmly reject these comments. For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match." They underscored the historic achievement and generational dream that qualification represents for nations like Cape Verde, Curacao, and Uzbekistan, and the profound significance for countries such as Congo and Haiti, returning after long absences.
The joint communiqué further emphasised the extensive effort behind every qualification, stating, "Behind every qualification stand years of work and investment. Behind every national team stand entire communities and millions of people who see football as a source of pride, hope and unity." They stressed that football's strength lies in its universality and that every qualifying nation deserves respect, having earned its place on merit.
This expansion marks the first time the World Cup has grown since 1998, when it increased from 24 to 32 teams. The protesting nations concluded by reaffirming their belief that the growth of football should continue to create opportunities, inspire new generations, and strengthen the truly global nature of the sport, directly countering Ceferin's reported perspective.