2026 World Cup Format Controversy: 13 Federations Affirm That Every Match Holds Meaning.

Thirteen national Football federations from different world regions have released a joint stance responding to comments from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin regarding the new format and expanded participant line-up for the FIFA World Cup.

These federations represent Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and multiple other territories. They argue that Ceferin's criticism towards the new World Cup format - including his claim that many qualifying matches are unengaging - fails to reflect the actual reality faced by most nations fighting to reach the tournament finals.

"For our countries, there is no such thing as an insignificant FIFA World Cup match. Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup is a historic achievement, the manifestation of a dream passed down across generations," reads the joint statement published via the Moroccan Football Federation's X account on Monday, 15 June 2025.

The document was signed by the football federations of Senegal, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and South Africa.

The federations stressed that the view dismissing most qualifying matches as unimportant completely overlooks the long struggle endured by players, coaches, clubs, federation administrators, and millions of football supporters across these nations.

According to the signatories, the journey to the World Cup is not built overnight. Every nation invests resources, develops careful long-term planning, and works relentlessly for years in the pursuit of competing on football's biggest global stage.

The statement also underlined football's role as a symbol of national unity and pride. Behind every national team exists an entire community that views this sport as both a source of hope and a unifying force for society.

This coalition of federations asserted that football is a sport belonging to the entire world, and must never be judged exclusively from the perspective of a narrow group or a small number of decision-makers.

"The FIFA World Cup is the greatest football competition on this planet precisely because it brings together diverse cultures, histories, and football journeys," the statement read, further noting that qualifying for the tournament very often carries meaning that extends far beyond mere sporting achievement.

For many developing nations, successfully reaching the World Cup finals is not only an on-pitch accomplishment. This milestone also inspires young generations, drives progress for domestic football development, and creates treasured lifelong memories.

Closing the joint statement, the federations requested that every nation that secures a World Cup spot receives equal respect for their hard fought journey and accomplishment.

"Every nation that qualifies deserves respect. Every team earned their place through merit. Every single match holds meaning," they concluded.