Čeferin Critical of World Cup: Prices Are Dizzying, Expansion Unnecessary

Aleksander Čeferin, the president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), has voiced strong criticism regarding the upcoming 48-team World Cup, labeling the expansion as unnecessary and detrimental to the quality of the sport.

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Ticket prices at the 2026 World Cup are dizzying. That's a fact. We ask ourselves if the meaning of football is just this.

Speaking at a conference in Ljubljana, Čeferin stated that the increased number of teams leads to "a huge number of matches that are completely uninteresting." While acknowledging that the expansion allows smaller nations to participate and experience the World Cup, he primarily focused on the negative impact on match quality and the overall spectacle.

Furthermore, Čeferin expressed dismay over the "dizzying" ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, questioning the commercialization of football. "Are we really trying to get rid of the fans?" he asked, suggesting that stadiums might be full of wealthy attendees in the US and Canada, but this comes at the cost of alienating traditional supporters.

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We have a huge number of matches that are completely uninteresting.

He also touched upon the role of politics in sports, advocating for minimal interference. "Sport can connect the world. It is one of the few activities that still connects it, so we should nurture it, and politics should interfere as little as possible in sports," Čeferin remarked. He also indicated that he does not plan to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the tournament.

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Sport can connect the world. It is one of the few activities that still connects it, so we should nurture it, and politics should interfere as little as possible in sports.