Thirteen national football federations, including Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Ghana, have jointly criticized
comments attributed to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin regarding the expanded 2026 World Cup format.
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The controversy comes after remarks suggesting that some matches in the tournament could be considered
“less interesting,” a statement that triggered a unified response from the federations involved.
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In a joint declaration, the signatories strongly rejected this idea, stressing that every World Cup match
carries major importance, especially for nations where qualification itself represents a historic achievement and national pride.
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The federations also emphasized that the strength of the World Cup lies in its global inclusivity,
arguing that no participating team or match should be minimized or dismissed.
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The statement has since gained wide attention across international media, highlighting
growing tensions around the expanded 48-team World Cup format.
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One thing is clear:
for these federations, the World Cup is not just about elite nations — it is about global representation,
respect, and equal value for every team on the world stage.
