Thirteen national football associations from the continents of Africa, Asia, North America, and the Caribbean, including Morocco and Senegal, expressed “deep disappointment” regarding the recent statements made by UEFA’s chief executive, Alexander Čeferin, about the expansion of the FIFA World Cup, describing several matches as “unimportant.”
The associations stated in a joint statement: “There is no match in the World Cup that is unimportant for our countries. Qualifying for the World Cup represents a historic achievement and fulfills a dream shared by entire generations.”
They added: “The suggestion that some of our matches are less important than others is extremely regrettable, and it overlooks the efforts, sacrifices, and ambitions made by players, coaches, clubs, officials, and fans around the world. Behind every qualification are years of work and investment, and behind each national team are entire communities and millions of people who see football as a source of pride, hope, and unity.”
The statement confirmed that “football does not belong to a limited group of distinguished leaders; its strength lies in its universality. The World Cup is the largest football competition in the world precisely because it brings together different cultures, histories, and footballing paths.” The associations emphasized that “participating in the World Cup is not just a sporting achievement for many countries; it is a moment that inspires an entire generation, accelerates the development of football, and creates memories that last a lifetime.”
The statement concluded by saying: “We believe that every nation that qualifies deserves respect. Every team qualified on merit. Every match is important.”
Signatories to the statement:
- Senegalese Football Federation
- Cape Verdean Football Federation
- Curaçao Football Federation
- Uzbek Football Federation
- Congolese Football Federation
- Haitian Football Federation
In solidarity with:
- Algerian Football Federation
- Tunisian Football Federation
- Royal Moroccan Football Federation
- Egyptian Football Federation
- Ghanaian Football Federation
- Ivorian Football Federation
- South African Football Federation
This statement comes at a time when there is a debate about the format of the expanded 2026 World Cup (48 teams) and the future of the tournament, where Čeferin’s remarks garnered widespread criticism that many associations regarded as “insulting” to football outside Europe.
