A group of football associations from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia have issued a joint statement criticising comments attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin regarding the expansion of the FIFA World Cup.
The football governing bodies of Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Congo and Haiti, together with associations from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, said they were “profoundly disappointed” by remarks in which Mr Čeferin reportedly characterised many World Cup matches as “uninteresting”.
In a joint communiqué, the federations said they “respectfully but firmly reject these comments”, arguing that every match at football’s biggest tournament carries significance for participating nations and their supporters.
“For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match,” the statement said.
The associations highlighted the importance of World Cup qualification for emerging football nations, noting that for countries such as Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, reaching the tournament represents “a historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations”.
They also pointed to nations seeking a return to the global stage after lengthy absences.
“For nations such as Congo and Haiti, returning to football’s biggest stage after a long absence carries a special meaning for millions of supporters who have waited years, and in some cases decades, for this moment,” the communiqué added.
The federations said the comments failed to recognise the effort required to qualify for the competition and the wider impact of football on national identity and development.
“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,” the statement said.
Defending FIFA’s expanded World Cup format, the associations argued that the tournament’s appeal stems from its global inclusiveness rather than the participation of a select group of nations.
“Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality,” they said. “The FIFA World Cup is the world’s greatest football competition precisely because it brings together different cultures, different histories and different football journeys.”
The statement also stressed that qualification for the World Cup extends beyond sporting success.
“For many countries, participation in the FIFA World Cup is not only a sporting achievement. It is a moment that inspires a generation, accelerates football development and creates memories that last a lifetime.”
The federations concluded by rejecting the UEFA president’s remarks and reaffirming their support for broader participation in international football.
“We believe that every nation that qualifies deserves respect. Every team has earned its place on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream.”
The communiqué ended with the declaration: “Every team qualified on merit. Every match matters.”
