Country suspended from all football as FIFA issue statement

For one simple reason

According to FIFA, the country in question has been banned “until further notice” from international football.

As people from all around the globe have their eyes on football, with the FIFA World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the banned nation is one which didn’t manage to qualify for the newly-expanded 48-team tournament.

FIFA revealed that the banned nation is Nepal, the team ranked 177th in the FIFA men’s rankings and 88th at the women’s.

While they didn’t qualify for the World Cup, the Asian country won the AFC Solidarity Cup ten years ago, and to their name have a few South Asian Games gold medals.

The reason for the ban revealed

As per FIFA, Nepal won’t compete at all in international competitions for the foreseeable future.

That’s as a result of an indefinite ban by the international self-regulatory governing body of association football.

Due to accusations of a third-party interference, FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

What this means is that its national teams and clubs are not allowed to enter international football, or FIFA and Asian Football Confederation competitions.

According to The Kathmandu Post, the ANFA had previously been suspended by Nepal's National Sports Council, as it refused to recognise an ANFA election, with the current executive committee already seeing its reign end.

In a statement to member associations, FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafstrom, wrote: “We hereby inform you that, as a result of the decision taken by the Bureau of the Council on 24 June 2026, ANFA has been suspended until further notice in accordance with Article 16 of the FIFA Statutes.”

“Consequently, with effect from 24 June 2026, ANFA has lost all of its membership rights, as defined in Article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, until further notice. ANFA representative and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.”

Not only Nepal – here’s what the ban actually means for other nations

While the ban means Nepal cannot compete in any FIFA competition, other countries' football associations also can't even get in touch with them.

“This also means that neither ANFA nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses, or training from FIFA and/or the AFC. Moreover, we would remind you and your affiliates not to enter into any sporting contact with ANFA and/or its teams while ANFA is suspended”, the statement continues.

“Finally, the Bureau of the Council or the FIFA Council may lift this suspension at any time before the next FIFA Congress takes place. Should this occur, we will inform you accordingly.”

However, there is hope for Nepal still, it has been revealed.

Previously, nations like DR Congo and Pakistan had also been banned by FIFA and for similar rules breach, which is third-party interference.

Their bans were lifted last year, however.

While Pakistan did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country has a massive presence at the tournament: as approximately 70% of the world's footballs - including the official match ball - are manufactured in the city of Sialkot.

Meanwhile, The Democratic Republic of the Congo is taking part at the World Cup and are currently third in Group K, where they managed an impressive draw against Portugal.