World Cup controversy: 13 federations respond sharply to UEFA president

Thirteen national football federations have issued a strong rebuttal to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, directly confronting his criticisms regarding the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams. The federations expressed firm rejection of his questioning of the larger tournament format.

Čeferin has been vocal in his opposition to the expanded World Cup, which is scheduled to begin in 2026. His concerns often center on the potential dilution of competition quality and the logistical challenges associated with such a large-scale event.

The federations' firm response indicates a significant division between FIFA's vision for a more inclusive global tournament and UEFA's stance, which appears to prioritize traditional formats and potentially higher revenue streams from a more concentrated event.

This public disagreement highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the future of major international football tournaments and the competing interests of various stakeholders within the sport's governing bodies.