FIFA have banned 16 countries for breaking official regulations
FIFA have banned a total of 16 countries for breaking their official regulations since 1950.
Currently, 210 different nations are ranked in FIFA's men's world rankings, with 194 competing in women's international football.
One of the nations currently banned from competing in FIFA-sanctioned matches are Russia following their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A ban differs from a team being officially unranked, which occurs when they haven't played a match in the last 48 months or haven't played more than five matches against officially ranked teams.
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The only nation currently unranked on both the men's and women's rankings are Eritrea, whose Football Association regularly cancel fixtures. According to reports, the reason is to prevent players from taking advantage of away fixtures to escape from the country and request political asylum.
But while Eritrea remain eligible to play fixtures, there are 16 countries who have been banned by FIFA since 2006. And while some of them have since been readmitted, others remain suspended.
But while Eritrea are still technically a member of FIFA, football's worldwide governing body has banned 16 countries since 2008 for breaking its official regulations.
In most of those cases, countries are banned from FIFA due to third-party interference - usually from the government - in footballing affairs.
But there have been other reasons behind banning nations from FIFA events. Take a look below:
Germany and Japan (1950 World Cup)
Germany and Japan were both barred from the 1950 World Cup - the first to be held since 1938 because of their actions during World War II.
In addition, the Japan Football Association was suspended in 1945 for failure to pay dues, while its German counterpart was completely disbanded in 1945 and not reorganised until after the tournament.
South Africa (1970 World Cup - 1990 World Cup)
South Africa were formerly suspended by FIFA in 1961 due to the nation's strict apartheid policies.
But Sir Stanley Rous, the FA chief who was appointed as FIFA president between 1961 and 1974, resisted calls to expel them from FIFA.
The nation was eventually expelled in 1976 once Joao Havelange replaced Rous.
The ban was not lifted until 1991, when apartheid was beginning to reach its end and a new football federation was formed.
A ban on playing tournaments officially began in 1970, though technically lasted through the 1966 World Cup as South Africa were simply not admitted as a FIFA member.
Mexico (1990 World Cup)
Mexico were barred from competing in FIFA tournaments for two years after they fielded four overage players during a qualifying round for a world junior tournament.
That meant they missed the 1990 World Cup, which was won by West Germany. Since then, Mexico have qualified for every World Cup, including the 2026 edition which they will co-host.
Chile (1994 World Cup)
Chile were banned from the 1994 World Cup after it was found that their goalkeeper Roberto Rojas had used a hidden blade in his glove to cut himself during a match against Brazil.
He previously claimed that he had been injured by a flare thrown by a fan. Rojas was subsequently banned from football for life.
Myanmar (2006 World Cup)
Myanmar, who have never qualified for a World Cup, were banned from even competing in the qualifying stages for the 2006 edition in Germany.
They were also fined $23,500 after pulling out of a qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup that was due to be played in Iran.
They were also banned from the 2018 World Cup due to crowd trouble during a qualifying match, but were later reinstated after agreeing to play their remaining fixtures at neutral venues.
Russia (2022 World Cup, Euro 2024)
Russia were banned indefinitely by FIFA in February 2022 following their invasion of Ukraine.
They have so far missed the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 tournaments, and are not eligible to participate in qualifying the 2026 World Cup.
Iraq (2008 and 2009)
Iraq were twice banned in 2008 and 2009. Firstly, in 2008, its government disbanded the nation's football federation, before the Iraq Olympic Committee disbanded the federation again in 2009. They were subsequently readmitted to FIFA on both occasions.
Nigeria (2014)
In 2014, the Nigerian Football Federation sacked its executive committee after the World Cup, and a civil servant was ordered to run the Federation instead.
Their FIFA ban only lasted nine days, however, with the court order quickly revoked.
Kuwait (2015)
Kuwait were the first nation to be suspended in 2015.
Legislation brought in by the government meant that the nation's football association could not be ran independently.
FIFA took action, with the ban only lifted in December 2017.
Indonesia (2015)
Indonesia were banned by FIFA after it was found that its government was controlling football affairs.
The country's own top domestic league had been suspended in April after a row between the government and the football federation over the ownership of two of its teams.
A month later, Indonesia was banned from competing in FIFA events for an indefinite period, with the government having derecognised the football federation and appointing a new committee as its replacement. The ban was lifted in 2016.
Guatemala (2016)
In 2016, football in Guatemala was placed into chaos after a corruption scandal involving its federation's former president.
Brayan Jimenez pled guilty to racketeering after receiving 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' in bribes to award marketing rights to an American-based company for World Cup qualifying matches.
But a transitional committee appointed in the wake of the scandal could not operate, because the federation's directors would not recognise it.
FIFA banned Guatemala, with the ban lasting until June 2018.
Pakistan (2017 and 2021)
Pakistan were suspended by FIFA from competing in tournaments after its federation's offices came under the control of an administrator, who was put in place by a court.
The appointment breached FIFA's third-party rules, and the nation was banned until March 2018.
Pakistan received a second ban in 2021 after a 'hostile takeover' of the federation's headquarters by a group of officials, which was condemned by players and coaches. The ban was lifted in July 2022.
Chad (2021)
Chad were swiftly banned by FIFA in March 2021 after its football federation was dissolved by a ministry of the nation's government.
The ban was lifted in October 2021 after the federation underwent the necessary changes.
Zimbabwe (2022)
Zimbabwe were one of the most recent nations to be banned by FIFA in 2022.
While the nation's cricketing teams were banned in 2019 by the ICC due to government inference, it wasn't until three years later when the nation was banned by FIFA.
The Zimbabwean FA was suspended by a government committee amid allegations of sexual harassment and fraud. A former official was suspended for five years by FIFA in 2022 over sexual harassment of three female referees.
The ban on the nation was lifted in July 2023 after FIFA set up its own temporary committee to run footballing affairs.
Kenya (2022)
In 2022, FIFA banned Kenya after the nation's government disbanded its football federation over alleged misappopriation of funds.
The ban was lifted later that year after former federation officials returned to their posts, and control of the offices were handed back to the board.
Topics: FIFA, Football, Africa Cup Of Nations, UEFA, FIFA World Cup
Ryan Smart