FIFA Impose 3-0 Forfeit That Could Have Huge Impact on World Cup Qualifying

FIFA have imposed another 3-0 forfeit in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The qualification process for the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has been far from some sailing for a number of nations.

Equatorial Guinea were forced to forfeit two matches by a 3-0 scoreline in Group H of African qualifying after FIFA deemed they had fielded an ineligible player.

Former Middlesbrough and Birmingham forward Emilio Nsue has played for the nation since 2012 and is their top goalscorer, but was officially ineligible to play between 2014 and last year due to a FIFA ruling.

Emilio Nsue extends his record as Equatorial Guinea's leading scorer! 🇬🇶 pic.twitter.com/AiWguQSL9Y

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 18, 2024

Nsue continued to play while ineligible and scored in wins over Namibia and Liberia, which were annulled.

The ineligibility verdict was successfully challenged by Equatorial Guinea earlier this year but their two victories were not restored, eliminating them from qualifying.

Now, a second nation has been ordered to forfeit a World Cup qualifier.

South Africa have been forced to forfeit their 3-0 win over Lesotho earlier this month due to fielding an ineligible player.

Midfielder Teboho Mokoena has received 41 caps for the national team, but collected two yellow cards in two previous qualifiers.

He should therefore have served his one-match ban against Lesotho, but was chosen to play in the game.

South Africa, who played in the 2010 World Cup as hosts but haven't qualified since, must therefore forfeit the match 3-0.

They have been fined CHF 10,000 (around £9,300) by FIFA.

Speaking earlier this month (via ESPN), their head coach Hugo Broos admitted that an error had been made surrounding Mokoena's ineligibility but added that 'there was no complaint'.

The sanction could have a significant impact on their World Cup qualification prospects.

South Africa were top of Group C, three points ahead of Benin, and were on course to automatically qualify for next summer's tournament.

However, they now fall behind Benin on goal difference.

The second-placed team in each of the nine groups then goes into a separate table, where the top four runners-up progress to the second round - a knockout format where the winning team qualifies for the World Cup.

South Africa are eighth in that table with two games remaining, and are one point behind fourth-placed Burkina Faso with a significantly worse goal difference.

They take on fourth-placed Rwanda, who are three points behind them, and already-eliminated Zimbabwe in their final matches.