Čeferin faces criticism over expanded World Cup comment

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin was criticized by soccer governing bodies from Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for remarks suggesting the expanded 48-team World Cup leads to uninteresting matches. A joint statement from several federations expressed disappointment, emphasizing the significance of World Cup participation for many countries. The statement highlighted the historical achievements of teams like Cape Verde, Curaçao, and others in qualifying for their first World Cups. Sources indicate that Čeferin's remarks were made at a conference in Ljubljana, where he acknowledged both the number of uninteresting matches and the opportunities for smaller nations to compete.

• 7:43 PMYahoo Sports — UEFA head Čeferin criticized for allegedly saying expanded World Cup creates uninteresting matches