FIFA threatens to ban country from international football and 2026 World Cup as official letter sent

FIFA has reportedly threatened to ban a country from international football and the 2026 World Cup after sending an official letter to its government.

Aside from co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, four other nations have secured qualification for the next World Cup.

Iran and Japan qualified from the AFC section earlier this week, while Argentina are already qualified from South America. New Zealand are the fourth team through to the tournament, via the OFC section.

The next World Cup will see an increase in competing nations from 32 to 48, giving the so-called 'smaller' nations, in footballing terms, a bigger opportunity than ever to qualify.

Several nations will not be competing in the World Cup due to FIFA suspensions. Russia are barred due to their invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while Pakistan and Congo were excluded from qualifying due to administrative failures and third-party interference respectively.

But another nation - who recently played against Russia in a friendly - may now be banned from the World Cup.

According to Soccer24.zw, FIFA have written to the football association of Zambia to warn them that they could be suspended from playing international football entirely.

Soccer24.zw - a domain used in neighbouring African country Zimbabwe - report that the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), a government organisation, had initially written to FIFA to call for the establishment of an independent electoral body and a 'thorough review of the Football Association of Zambia's electoral process'.

FIFA regulations ban third-party influence in a nation's footballing affairs, including from government bodies.

In February, Zambia FA president Andrew Kamanga was granted a third term in office unopposed, by virtue of eight other candidates being disqualified for failing to 'meet constitutional requirements'.

After launching independent appeals, however, four candidates had their disqualifications reversed. The elections will take place between March 15 and March 29, with a Zambia FA general meeting scheduled for the latter date.

The FIFA letter reads: "We would like to remind you that every member association of FIFA is statutorily obliged to manage its affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties, including the government bodies.

"Any breach of this obligation may lead to sanctions provided for in the FIFA statutes.

"As a result, should the transitional committee be indeed established, FAZ would be at risk of breaching the above-mentioned statutory provisions.

"Should this happen, FIFA will have no option but to submit the matter to its relevant decision-making body for consideration and decision, which might also include the suspension of FAZ."

Kamanga, meanwhile, is positive that FIFA will not ban Zambia from competing in international football.

"Ideally, it shouldn't," he said. "Because for me, what I believe is that, with FIFA, we did have a road map, and agreed in December in that programme to have the elections starting from the 15th of March up to the 29th of March.

"Of course, there's been different interpretations. But at the end of the day, as you can expect, FIFA only deals with the members.

"We expect that this issue will be resolved in due course, but it will be sad if we went the way of being sanctioned by FIFA, which I hope will not happen. I think everyone needs to find common ground."

On the pitch, Zambia are currently coached by the former Chelsea and West Ham manager Avram Grant.

Their star player is Leicester forward Patson Daka, who has scored 21 goals in his 47 caps for the nation

They are still able to qualify for the World Cup through African qualifying - from a group that has been beset with various issues.

Eritrea pulled out of qualifying before it began due to fears that its players would seek political asylum abroad, while Congo withdrew after three games played following their FIFA suspension.

They have four matches remaining in the group, and currently sit three points behind Niger, who occupy the second and final qualification spot for the next round.