The FIFA World Cup is the biggest international football tournament, where nations compete for glory. However, not every country has had the opportunity to participate. While many fail due to tough qualification rounds, some have been banned from the tournament altogether due to violations of FIFA regulations.
Recently, Pakistan and Congo joined the list of banned nations, alongside Russia, ruling them out of the 2026 World Cup. Russia has been under suspension since 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. However, this is not the first time FIFA has banned countries from the tournament. Since 1950, 17 nations have faced exclusion for various reasons, including political interference, governance issues, and unfair play.
Countries That Have Faced FIFA World Cup Bans
Germany & Japan (1950): After World War II, FIFA banned both nations from the 1950 World Cup as a punishment for their wartime actions.
South Africa (1970–1990): The country was expelled from FIFA in 1976 due to its apartheid policies. South Africa missed five World Cups before being reinstated in 1991, after the apartheid system ended.
Mexico (1990): Mexico faced a two-year ban from all FIFA competitions, including the 1990 World Cup, after being found guilty of fielding overage players in a youth tournament.
Chile (1994): Chile was disqualified after its goalkeeper, Roberto Rojas, faked an injury in a crucial 1989 match against Brazil. Rojas received a lifetime ban, although it was lifted in 2001.
Myanmar (2006): FIFA barred Myanmar from World Cup qualifiers after it withdrew from a 2002 qualifier against Iran without valid reasons.
Iraq (2008): The country was temporarily banned after dissolving its Olympic committee and sports federations, which FIFA viewed as government interference in football affairs.
Nigeria (2014): FIFA suspended Nigeria due to government interference in the country’s football federation. However, the ban was lifted after FIFA’s conditions were met.
Kuwait (2015): Kuwait was banned over recurring political interference in its football administration.
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Indonesia (2015): FIFA suspended Indonesia for the same reasons as Kuwait—government meddling in the country’s football operations.
Guatemala (2016): The Central American nation faced a ban due to government interference in its football federation.
Pakistan (2017, 2021 & 2025): Pakistan has been suspended multiple times due to governance issues and external interference in its football federation.
Chad (2021): FIFA barred Chad from international football after the government interfered in its football affairs.
Russia (2022 & 2026): Following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia was banned from the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. The country was also removed from other international competitions.
Zimbabwe (2022): The nation was suspended after its government-appointed Sports and Recreation Commission dissolved its football federation.
Kenya (2022): Kenya was banned over financial mismanagement in its football federation. However, it was later reinstated.
Congo (2025): The most recent country to be banned, Congo, was suspended due to external interference in its football administration.
FIFA’s Strict Stance on Interference
FIFA has consistently emphasized the need for football federations to operate independently, free from political and government interference. The organization maintains that national football associations must govern themselves without external control.
“FIFA has clear rules regarding government influence in football affairs. Any country that violates these rules risks suspension,” a FIFA spokesperson explained.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, many nations will aim to avoid governance issues that could lead to exclusion from the tournament. With Pakistan and Congo joining the growing list of banned nations, FIFA’s message remains clear—football must be free from external interference.