FIFA has officially suspended the football federations of two additional countries, barring them from international competition ahead of the 2026 World Cup. These nations now join Russia in being excluded from the tournament, set to take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Defending champions Argentina will look to retain their title, while football powerhouses such as France, England, and Spain prepare to battle for glory. However, Pakistan, Congo, and Russia will not be among the teams competing.
Russia's Continued Exclusion from Global Football
Russia remains under suspension due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a decision upheld by both FIFA and UEFA. Since the ban was enforced, Russian clubs and national teams have been prohibited from participating in major international tournaments, including the World Cup and European competitions.
Congo Suspended Due to Government Interference
The Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) has been suspended for violating FIFA regulations on third-party interference. FIFA's rules require national federations to operate independently without undue influence from external bodies, including governments.
The governing body has indicated that Congo’s suspension could be lifted if the federation regains full control of its headquarters and operations.
A FIFA statement read:
"FECOFOOT has been suspended with immediate effect due to a particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties in the affairs of the organisation, which constitutes a clear violation of FECOFOOT’s obligations in accordance with the FIFA Statutes. The decision was taken in consultation with CAF after two FIFA/CAF missions were dispatched to Brazzaville."
Pakistan Faces Yet Another FIFA Ban
Pakistan’s football federation has also been suspended due to its failure to amend its constitution to allow for fair and democratic elections within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). This marks the third time Pakistan has faced suspension, with previous bans occurring in 2017 and 2021.
The decision means that Pakistan will remain absent from the global football stage until the necessary reforms are implemented. The country’s qualification hopes had already been dashed, as they finished at the bottom of Group G in the AFC qualifiers.
Impact on World Cup Qualifying Campaigns
With their suspensions in place, both Congo and Pakistan are now officially out of contention for the 2026 World Cup. Congo currently sits at the bottom of Group E in the CAF qualifiers, while Pakistan had already been eliminated in the Asian qualifiers.
These bans highlight FIFA’s continued efforts to maintain governance standards and prevent external interference in football federations worldwide.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on how these federations respond to FIFA’s conditions for reinstatement and whether they can regain their place in international football.
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