WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Football Federation has joined twelve other national football associations in criticizing UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin following remarks he reportedly made about the expanded FIFA World Cup.
In a rare joint statement, the football associations of Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan, DR Congo, Haiti, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, and Côte d'Ivoire expressed what they called their “profound disappointment” with comments suggesting that the expansion of the World Cup would lead to less attractive or “uninteresting” matches.
The thirteen federations rejected the notion that matches involving emerging football nations are somehow less meaningful than those involving traditional football powers.
“For our countries, there is no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match,” the statement said.
The federations highlighted the significance of qualification for countries such as Curaçao, Cape Verde, and Uzbekistan, all of which reached the FIFA World Cup for the first time in their histories.
“For Cape Verde, Curaçao and Uzbekistan, qualification for the FIFA World Cup represents a historic achievement and the realization of a dream shared by generations,” the statement noted.
The joint declaration emphasized that behind every World Cup qualification campaign are years of investment, sacrifice, and development by players, coaches, football administrators, clubs, and supporters.
The associations argued that football's global appeal stems from its inclusiveness and diversity rather than being limited to a small group of established football nations.
“Football does not belong to a select group of nations. Its strength comes from its universality,” the statement 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.”
For Curaçao, the issue carries particular significance. The island made history by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time, becoming the smallest nation ever to reach football's biggest tournament. The achievement sparked celebrations across the island and among Curaçao communities abroad.
The federations also stressed that participation in the World Cup often has an impact far beyond sport, inspiring young people, accelerating football development, and creating a sense of national pride.
“Every team qualified on merit. Every match matters,” the statement concluded.
The coordinated response reflects growing support among emerging football nations for FIFA's decision to expand the World Cup, arguing that broader participation strengthens the sport and provides opportunities for countries that historically had little chance of reaching the global stage.
For Curaçao, whose World Cup debut has already captured international attention, the statement serves as a defense of the achievements of smaller football nations and their right to compete alongside the world's traditional powers.