On June 14, 2026, the French Football Federation (FSF) and 12 other European football federations issued a joint statement condemning recent remarks by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The statement, published on the FSF's official website, criticized Čeferin for what they described as 'disrespectful and divisive' comments about the tournament's organization and host nations.
According to the statement, the federations accused Čeferin of undermining the spirit of international football by questioning the integrity of the World Cup bidding process and the capabilities of the host countries. The FSF emphasized that such remarks could harm the unity of European football and its relationship with FIFA.
Čeferin's comments, made during a press conference on June 12, 2026, reportedly suggested that the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, faced logistical and political challenges. The UEFA president did not provide specific evidence for his claims, leading to widespread backlash from the involved federations.
The joint statement was signed by the football federations of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland. They called on UEFA to clarify its position and reaffirm its commitment to supporting FIFA's flagship event.
As of June 15, 2026, UEFA has not officially responded to the statement. The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 8 to July 3, 2026, across 16 cities in North America.
