The world football body recently banned Congo, Pakistan, and Russia from participating in the 2026 World Cup, but they are not the first to be dealt such a blow. Here are 12 countries that have been suspended by FIFA.
Pulse Sports Nigeria recently reported that FIFA has handed out suspensions to a couple of nations that broke its laws.
The reasons varied from third-party interference to unlawful elections and humanitarian violations.
Here are 12 countries that have been suspended by FIFA and the reasons for their suspensions.
1. Germany and Japan (1950)
Both countries were banned from the 1950 World Cup after World War II because of their roles in the war.
In 1945, Japan had already been suspended for not paying its fees, while Germany's football federation was broken up and only set up again after the tournament.
2. South Africa (1970-1990)
FIFA banned South Africa from football tournaments between 1970 and 1990 because of its apartheid policies.
The country was first suspended in 1961 but was fully removed from FIFA in 1976 when João Havelange became president and took a stricter approach than Sir Stanley Rous before him.
South Africa was only allowed back in 1991 after apartheid ended.
3. Mexico (1990)
Mexico was banned from the 1990 World Cup after using overage players in a youth tournament.
Los Cachirules scandal broke out when four players in Mexico's junior team were found to be too old. FIFA punished them with a two-year ban, which meant they missed one of football's biggest tournaments.
4. Chile (1994)
Chile was disqualified from the 1994 World Cup because of a cunning act by their goalkeeper, Roberto Rojas.
During a game against Brazil, Rojas cut himself with a hidden blade and pretended to be injured by a flare from the crowd.
FIFA saw through the trick and banned him for life, while Chile was also punished and not allowed to take part in the 1994 tournament.
5. Myanmar (2006, 2018)
Myanmar was banned from the 2006 World Cup after pulling out of a qualifier in Iran for the 2002 tournament.
FIFA first fined them $23,500 but later decided to ban them from the next World Cup as well.
In 2018, they were suspended again due to fan trouble but were allowed to return after agreeing to play on neutral grounds.
6. Russia (2022, 2024, 2026)
Russia was banned from FIFA competitions after invading Ukraine in 2022. This meant they missed the 2022 World Cup and will not play in Euro 2024. The ban is still in place, so Russia cannot qualify for the 2026 World Cup either.
7. Iraq (2008, 2009)
Iraq were banned in consecutive years; first in 2008, when they were suspended after their government shut down the country's football federation.
This ban was removed but was reinstated in 2009 when Iraq's Olympic Committee did the same thing again. Both bans were brief, and Iraq was quickly allowed to return.
8. Nigeria (2014)
Nigeria faced a short FIFA ban in 2014 after problems following the World Cup. The country's football leaders were removed, and a government worker took control.
FIFA punished Nigeria, but the ban lasted only nine days before it was lifted by a court order.
9. Indonesia (2015)
Indonesia was banned from FIFA competitions in 2015 because of government interference. The country's league was stopped, and FIFA did not accept the government's decision to remove the National Football Federation.
After a long dispute, the ban was lifted in 2016, and Indonesia was allowed to return to international football.
10. Pakistan (2017, 2021, 2025)
Pakistan was banned twice in recent years due to problems within its football federation.
In 2017, FIFA suspended them after a court-appointed official took control, breaking FIFA's rules on outside interference.
The ban was removed in 2018, but Pakistan was banned again in 2021 after a group took over the federation's headquarters, and it lasted until 2022.
However, Pakistan's Football Federation (PFF) has been suspended again in 2025 for not accepting a new constitution that guarantees fair and democratic elections.
FIFA revealed that they will only lift the ban if the PFF Congress approves the version of the constitution created by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
PFF Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik said that FIFA wants to change the PFF Constitution to match international standards. However, the newly elected PFF Congress members have not accepted FIFA's changes.
11. Zimbabwe (2022)
Zimbabwe were banned by FIFA in 2022. They were suspended after the government got involved in the country's football federation following serious allegations of sexual harassment against three female referees. However, the ban was lifted in July 2023.
12. Congo (2025)
Most recently, FIFA suspended the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) due to serious outside interference in its affairs.
FIFA stated that this interference goes against FECOFOOT's responsibilities under FIFA's rules. The ban is yet to be lifted at the time of writing this.
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