Several football federations from nations qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, including Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, have jointly condemned remarks made by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. Čeferin recently stated that expanding the World Cup to 48 teams would result in “uninteresting” matches. The federations released a joint statement protesting these comments, expressing their disagreement with the assessment of the expanded tournament’s potential. The statement highlights concerns about the perceived disrespect towards participating nations and the devaluation of their qualification achievements. This unified response signals growing tension surrounding the format change and its implications for the global football landscape. The federations argue the expansion offers opportunities for broader participation and development of the sport worldwide.