World Cup nations slam UEFA chief for ‘disappointing’ 48-team criticism

Thirteen World Cup participant nations have issued a joint statement criticizing the UEFA chief for his recent comments disparaging the proposed expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams. The nations emphasized their belief that 'there's no such thing as an unimportant World Cup match,' directly refuting any suggestion that an expanded format would dilute the tournament's significance or lead to less meaningful games. This public rebuke highlights growing tensions between FIFA, which is pushing for the expansion, and some European football officials, underscoring a power struggle over the future structure and commercialization of international football's premier event.