The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, a tournament every footballing nation aspires to participate in.
However, not all countries get the chance—some due to tough qualification processes and others because of FIFA-imposed bans.
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Over the years, FIFA has barred several nations from competing for various reasons, including political interference, governance issues, and violations of football regulations.
Most recently, Pakistan and Congo were added to the list, preventing them from competing in the 2026 World Cup alongside Russia, which has been banned since 2022.
Since 1950, 17 countries have faced FIFA World Cup bans. Here’s a look at why they were barred:
Countries Banned from the FIFA World Cup
- Germany & Japan (1950): Both nations were banned from the tournament as a consequence of their roles in World War II.
- South Africa (1970–1990): Barred due to its apartheid policies, South Africa was expelled from FIFA in 1976 and missed five World Cups. The ban was lifted in 1991 after apartheid ended.
- Mexico (1990): Sanctioned for fielding overage players in a youth tournament, Mexico was banned from all FIFA competitions for two years, including the 1990 World Cup.
- Chile (1994): Banned after goalkeeper Roberto Rojas staged a fake injury during a 1989 match against Brazil. He received a lifetime ban, which was lifted in 2001.
- Myanmar (2006): Prevented from qualifying after withdrawing from a 2002 World Cup qualifier against Iran.
- Iraq (2008): Temporarily banned after its government dissolved the Olympic committee and football federation.
- Nigeria (2014): Suspended due to government interference in its football administration.
- Kuwait (2015): Banned over persistent political interference in football governance.
- Indonesia (2015): Barred for similar reasons as Kuwait—political interference in the country’s football federation.
- Guatemala (2016): Suspended over government involvement in football affairs.
- Pakistan (2017, 2021 & 2025): Banned multiple times due to governance issues and lack of FIFA-recognized leadership in its football federation.
- Chad (2021): Barred after its government interfered in football administration.
- Russia (2022 & 2026): Suspended following the invasion of Ukraine, preventing them from competing in two consecutive World Cups.
- Zimbabwe (2022): Banned after its Sports and Recreation Commission dissolved the football federation.
- Kenya (2022): Suspended over financial mismanagement within its football federation but later reinstated.
- Congo (2025): Recently banned due to external interference in its football governance.
While some of these nations have been reinstated, others continue to face challenges in aligning with FIFA’s governance standards. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Pakistan and Congo remain the latest additions to the list of banned nations.