A coalition of 13 World Cup teams hailing from Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean has expressed their discontent with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin’s recent remarks about the expanded 48-team tournament, labeling some matches as “uninteresting.”
In a collective statement from the South Africa Football Association, the nations conveyed “deep disappointment” over Čeferin’s comments regarding the growth of the FIFA World Cup, particularly his description of several matches as lacking significance.
“For our nations, there are no insignificant World Cup matches,” the statement read. “To imply that these games are somehow less important is disheartening and overlooks the dedication, sacrifices, and dreams of players, coaches, clubs, football leaders, and fans around the globe.”
Čeferin’s comments were reported by Slovenian outlets Žurnal 24 and Dosi during a conference in Ljubljana last Monday.
“We strongly reject the comments made by the UEFA President and reiterate our conviction that the expansion of football should continue to create opportunities, inspire future generations, and enhance the truly global spirit of our sport,” the statement continued.
UEFA has not yet responded to ESPN’s request for a statement.
Alongside South Africa, the statement was supported by World Cup newcomers Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia.
“For teams like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, qualifying for the FIFA World Cup symbolizes a historic milestone and the fulfillment of a dream held by generations,” the statement noted.
“For nations such as Congo and Haiti, making a return to football’s premier platform after a lengthy absence is profoundly significant for millions of fans who have awaited this moment for years, and in some instances, decades.”
Information sourced from The Associated Press was included in this report.