Uefa president Ceferin sparked controversy after claiming that expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams would make many matches “uninteresting.” The remarks came during a conference in Ljubljana, his native Slovenia.

A joint statement from 13 nations—Cape Verde, Curacao, Uzbekistan, DR Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and South Africa—rejected the comments. They warned that the growth of the tournament offers opportunities for smaller footballing nations.

The associations argued that for countries like Cape Verde and Haiti, qualification itself is historic and carries immense pride. They said every earned spot deserves respect and that “every match carries meaning for millions.”

Ceferin’s comments have prompted a sharp response, underscoring how the expansion is viewed as a chance to widen football’s global reach rather than dilute its appeal.