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The football federations of Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa have voiced their disappointment over comments made by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin regarding the expansion of the FIFA World Cup, particularly his description of many matches as «meaningless».
«We respectfully but firmly reject these remarks», the federations said in a joint statement published on the website of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
«For our countries, no World Cup match is without importance», they stressed, adding that «for Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, qualifying for the FIFA World Cup represents a historic achievement and the fulfillment of a dream shared by generations».
The statement also noted that «for nations such as Congo and Haiti, returning to football's biggest stage after a long absence carries special meaning for millions of supporters who have waited years, even decades, for this moment».
The federations emphasized that «behind every qualification lie years of hard work and investment; behind every national team stand entire communities and millions of people for whom football is a source of pride, hope and unity».
«Football does not belong to a small group of nations. Its strength lies in its universality. The FIFA World Cup is the world's greatest football competition precisely because it brings together different cultures, histories and footballing journeys», the statement continued.
According to the signatories, participating in the World Cup is «a moment that inspires a generation» and «accelerates the development of football».
«Every team has earned its place on merit. Every supporter has the right to dream. Every match carries special meaning for millions of people around the world», the federations concluded.
