Soccer federations across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean issued a joint rebuke after UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin was quoted criticizing the expanded 48-team World Cup for allegedly producing uninteresting matches. The statement defended participation as
On Sunday, soccer federations across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean responded with something sharper than disagreement: disappointment directed at UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, after he was allegedly quoted saying the expanded 48-team World Cup would create “uninteresting matches.”
The federations of Cape Verde, Congo, Curaçao, Haiti, Jordan and Uzbekistan issued a joint statement they said was in solidarity with the federations of Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
“Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality,” the statement said. “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 statement did not cite Čeferin’s alleged comment directly. But he was quoted by the Slovenian websites Zurnal 24 and Dosi, with the remark traced to last Monday at a conference in Ljubljana.
In the remarks reported by those sites, Čeferin said, “We have a huge number of matches that are completely uninteresting,” while adding that the expansion allows small countries to participate and experience the tournament’s excitement.
UEFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The federations issuing the statement—released by South Africa’s federation—did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
What made the criticism land harder was the timing. Several of the countries named in the joint statement are either making their first World Cup appearance or returning after a long absence. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan qualified for their first World Cup. Congo and Haiti reached soccer’s top event for the first time since 1974.
Curaçao, one of the debutants, lost to Germany 7-1 on Sunday in its opener.
The joint statement framed participation as more than entertainment. For Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan, it said, qualification for the FIFA World Cup represents “a historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations.”
For Congo and Haiti, it said, 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 federations then took aim at the idea that their matches would be less important. “To suggest that these matches are somehow less important is deeply disappointing and fails to recognize the efforts. sacrifices and aspirations of players. coaches. clubs. football leaders and supporters across the world. ” the statement added.
The dispute comes down to a single fault line: whether the expanded format brings not just more teams, but more value—especially for smaller nations whose World Cup moments arrive late, or not at all, for years after the dream begins.
Aleksander Čeferin UEFA expanded 48-team World Cup FIFA World Cup soccer federations Africa Caribbean Asia Cape Verde Congo Curaçao Haiti Jordan Uzbekistan Tunisia
48 teams is dumb but uninteresting?? come on.
So UEFA is mad people smaller countries get to play now? Sounds like gatekeeping. If it’s “uninteresting,” why they even care.
Wait I thought the whole point was more matches means more excitement. But if the article is saying he said it’s uninteresting then maybe they should fix scheduling not shut down participation. Also Ljubljana conference?? like that’s basically nothing lol
This just feels like UEFA throwing shade at teams that barely qualify. Like I get “expanded tournament” but watching extra games can’t be worse than boring politics. They said it inspires a generation and stuff but idk, World Cup always had drama. Also it says UEFA didn’t respond so that means he’s definitely guilty, right?