13 World Cup teams reject Ceferin's 'uninteresting' claim

Thirteen nations competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have issued a joint statement rejecting comments attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who reportedly said the expanded tournament would feature many "completely uninteresting" matches. The football associations of Cape Verde, Curacao, Uzbekistan, DR Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and South Africa expressed their "profound disappointment" in a statement released Sunday.

Ceferin's comments spark backlash

Ceferin, speaking at a conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, was quoted by a Slovenian news outlet as saying the growth from 32 to 48 teams would lead to less attractive games. "We have a lot of matches that are completely uninteresting," he reportedly said. "On the other hand, even small countries can participate and feel the pulse of the World Cup, which is a big thing."

The remarks drew sharp criticism from nations that have benefited from FIFA's decision to expand the tournament for the first time since 1998, when it grew from 24 to 32 teams.

Joint statement: 'No such thing as an unimportant World Cup match'

The 13 nations said in their statement: "We respectfully but firmly reject these comments. For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match."

They highlighted the significance of qualification for smaller footballing nations. "For Cape Verde, Curacao and Uzbekistan, qualification for the FIFA World Cup represents a historic achievement and the realisation of a dream shared by generations," the statement read. "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 statement continued: "To suggest that these matches are somehow less important is deeply disappointing and fails to recognise the efforts, sacrifices and aspirations of players, coaches, clubs, football leaders and supporters across the world."

Defending the universality of football

The joint statement emphasized that football's strength lies in its universality. "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," it said. "Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality."

The nations concluded: "We believe every nation that qualifies deserves respect. Every team has earned its place on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream. Every match carries meaning for millions of people around the world. We therefore reject the UEFA president's comments and reaffirm our belief that the growth of football must continue to create opportunities, inspire new generations and strengthen the truly global nature of our game."

BBC Sport has contacted UEFA for comment.