A nation could miss the 2026 World Cup if FIFA decides to sanction them for a major infraction.
Next summer's World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The main host country of the matches is USA, with New Jersey's MetLife Stadium set to stage the final - while Canada and Mexico will be the auxiliary hosts.
Nations across the world are in the process of qualifying for the tournament that begins on June 11, 2026.
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Among the countries looking to book their spot in the competition is South Africa, who have not appeared at a men's World Cup since they hosted the tournament in 2010.
As things stand, South Africa are top of Group C in the African qualification phase after eight games with two left to play - against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
South Africa have 17 points on the board, three points clear of second-placed Benin and six clear of Nigeria and Rwanda, who both have 11 points.
In total, there are nine African qualification groups, with the winner of each one automatically qualifying for the World Cup.
And only the four best second-placed nations get a chance to enter a play-off round, with only one additional nation securing a place at the tournament.
So, finishing top is crucial.
Despite South Africa sitting at the top of Group C, their hopes to qualify for the World Cup has suddenly become perilous.
According to The Athletic, South Africa fielded an ineligible player by fielding Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in a group stage qualifier in March.
Per the report, the midfielder was not permitted to play because he received two yellow cards previously in qualification, which equals an automatic one-match suspension - with Equatorial Guinea falling foul of FIFA regulations.
South Africa Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Lydia Monyepao said that they had received correspondence from FIFA on the matter.
"We are preparing our response to the FIFA disciplinary committee because that is what ultimately is required from us as an association," she said.
South Arica could be hit with a 3-0 loss if they are punished by FIFA.
Its disciplinary code says: "If a team fields a player who is not eligible to participate (due to suspension, registration issues, nationality, etc.), the match is automatically forfeited. The default result is a 3-0 loss, unless the actual result was even more disadvantageous to the offending team."
If FIFA imposed the 3-0 forfeit, then it would throw Group C wide open.
South Africa would be level on points with Benin if they were sanctioned by FIFA.
They resume their qualifying campaign next month when they face Zimbabwe.
Topics: Football, FIFA World Cup
Nasir Jabbar