Football federations from thirteen nations, primarily from Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, have issued a joint statement criticizing UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin for reportedly describing matches in the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup as "uninteresting." The statement, released on Sunday, expressed firm rejection of these remarks, highlighting the profound significance of World Cup participation for developing football nations.

The criticism comes in the wake of comments attributed to Ceferin, who was quoted by Slovenian media last Monday as stating that the current World Cup format includes "a huge number of matches that are completely uninteresting." He reportedly contrasted this with the perceived positive aspect of allowing "even small countries to participate and feel the pulse of the World Cup."

The thirteen federations—Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Curacao, Haiti, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia—emphasized that for their countries, "there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match." They asserted that football's strength lies in its universality, not in being confined to a select group of nations. For many, participating in the World Cup is more than a sporting achievement; it's a generational inspiration, a catalyst for development, and a source of lifelong memories.

This strong rebuke underscores the differing perspectives on the expanded World Cup format. While Ceferin's comments suggest a concern over match quality, the statement from the participating nations frames World Cup involvement as a critical driver of national pride, hope, and unity, particularly for those making their debut or returning after long absences. The federations stressed that the qualification process itself involves years of hard work and investment, supported by entire communities.

Several nations involved in the statement are experiencing the World Cup in its 48-team format for the first time. Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan qualified for this year's tournament as debutants. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti are making their first appearance since 1974. Curacao, for example, faced Germany in their opening match on Sunday.

The 2026 World Cup marks the largest edition in history, expanding from 32 to 48 participating teams. This expansion aims to increase global representation in football's premier event, a move that has been met with both enthusiasm and scrutiny regarding its impact on the competition's overall quality.

The joint statement did not directly quote Ceferin, but referenced his reported remarks. The UEFA President's comments have ignited debate about the balance between inclusivity and competitive integrity in international football tournaments.

The federations concluded by underscoring that the journey to the World Cup represents a "historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations." They highlighted the special meaning of returning to the global stage for nations like Congo and Haiti, whose supporters have waited decades for such moments. The perceived dismissal of these achievements as leading to "unimportant" matches was deemed "deeply disappointing."