The African representatives at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup have released a joint statement in response to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin’s recent claim that the expanded tournament would produce “uninteresting” matches, www.aclsports.com reports.
“In my opinion, this is not a good decision, because we have a lot of matches that are completely uninteresting. Europe had 13 teams at the World Cup in Qatar, and now it has 16. This is a small difference, while some national teams came to the World Cup that would not have won a single match in Europe. On the other hand, even small countries can participate and feel the pulse of the World Cup, which is a big thing,” said Čeferin about the extended World Cup format.
In reaction to the above, the African representatives to the Mundial, which includes Cape Verde, Congo, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire, have been joined by Curaçao, Uzbekistan, and Haiti to express their “profound disappointment” at the statement from the UEFA chief.
“We respectfully but firmly reject these comments. For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match,” reads the translated version of the statement posted by the Senegalese Football Federation.
“For Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, qualification for the FIFA World Cup represents a historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations. 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.
“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.
“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. We believe that 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. Every team qualified on merit. Every match matters,” the statement concluded.
The 2026 edition is the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, with Africa represented by 10 nations all aiming to make a significant impact on football’s biggest stage.
Bafana Bafana of South Africa lost their opening game to Mexico, while Morocco, who were semifinalists in Qatar, dominated Brazil on Saturday, with other African teams still to play their first games at the ongoing tournament in the Americas.
