In total, FIFA has banned 17 countries since 1950 for breaking official restrictions. It includes three people who suspended the Football Association due to “severe circumstances” ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
As of February 2025, 211 different countries were ranked in FIFA’s World Men’s Rankings, with 194 participating in women’s international soccer.
One of the countries currently competing in FIFA-approved matches is Russia after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Last year, FIFA and UEFA decided to support Russia’s ban from global competitions up to the 2026 World Cup.
And as we reported last week, FIFA has immediately worked out due to serious circumstances, suspending football federations in two other countries (Congo and Pakistan), essentially in the US, Canada and Mexico. It is prohibited from the World Cup.
In total, there are 17 countries that have been banned by FIFA since 2006. Some countries have since been readmitted, while others remain suspended.
In these cases, the country is banned from FIFA in most cases due to football issues of third-party interference (usually from the government).
Germany and Japan (1950 World Cup)
Both Germany and Japan were banned from the 1950 World Cup. It was first held since 1938 for action during World War II.
Furthermore, the Japan Football Association was suspended in 1945 due to a failed payment of membership fees, but the German counterparts completely disbanded in 1945 and were not reorganized until after the tournament.
South Africa (1970 World Cup – 1990 World Cup)
South Africa was previously suspended by FIFA in 1961 due to the country’s strict apartheid policies, but Sir Stanley Ruth, the FA chief appointed president from 1961 to 1974, will be expelled from FIFA. I resisted the appeal.
The nation was eventually expelled in 1976 when Joao Havelange replaced Rous.
The ban was not lifted until 1991, when apartheid began to end and a new football federation formed.
The ban on tournament play officially began in 1970, but continued technically throughout the 1966 World Cup as South Africa was not recognized as a FIFA member.
South Africa did not appear in the 1990 World Cup. Image credits: Getty
Mexico (1990 World Cup)
Mexico was banned from competing in the FIFA tournament for two years after winning four excess players in the qualifying rounds of the world junior tournament.
That is, they missed the 1990 World Cup and West Germany won it.
Chile (1994 World Cup)
Chile was banned from the 1994 World Cup after it was discovered that their goalkeeper Roberto Rojas used a hidden blade in his gloves to cut himself during a match against Brazil. Ta.
He previously claimed he was injured in a flare thrown by a fan. Rojas was then banned from soccer for the rest of his life.
Myanmar (2006 World Cup)
Myanmar, who has never competed in the World Cup, was even banned from competing in Germany during the 2006 edition of the qualifying stage.
They were also fined $23,500 after withdrawing from the qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup scheduled to take place in Iran.
Other countries’ FIFAs include Russia (2022 World Cup, Euro 2024), Iraq (2008 and 2009), Nigeria (2014), Kuwait (2015), Indonesia (2015), Guatemala (2016), Pakistan (2017, 2021 , 2025), Chad (2021), Zimbabwe (2022), Kenya (2022), Congo (2025)
