Ghana Football Association has joined 12 other football federations in strongly rejecting UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin’s recent comments that many matches in the expanded FIFA World Cup are “uninteresting”.
In a joint communiqué released Wednesday, the FAs of Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa said they were “profoundly disappointed” by Ceferin’s remarks on the 48-team tournament.
“We respectfully but firmly reject these comments,” the statement read. “For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match.”
The federations argued that qualifying for the World Cup represents more than just football for many nations. For Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, it’s a “historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations.”
For Congo and Haiti, returning to the tournament after decades away carries “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,” the statement added.
The FAs stressed that behind every qualification are “years of work and investment” and “entire communities and millions of people who see football as a source of pride, hope and unity.”
“Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality,” they said. “The FIFA World Cup is the world’s greatest football competition precisely because it brings together different cultures, different histories and different football journeys.”
They concluded: “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.”
The communiqué was signed by Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Congo and Haiti. In solidarity with: Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and South Africa.
Ceferin’s comments came as debate continues over FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026. The GFA and its allies are now making clear they see every qualifier as equal, regardless of football history or ranking.
