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FIFA Could Ban Nation From World Cup as Rival Country Launch Official Complaint

Home> Football> Football News> FIFA World Cup

Updated 09:12 17 Dec 2025 GMTPublished 09:02 17 Dec 2025 GMT

FIFA Could Ban Nation From World Cup as Rival Country Launch Official Complaint

FIFA are investigating the issue.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

FIFA have received a complaint to kick a nation out of the 2026 World Cup following fresh controversy.

The World Cup is fast approaching, with the official draw taking place earlier this month.

US president Donald Trump was involved in the FIFA ceremony as he left fans raging with his moment with Gianni Infantino.

Each group was confirmed, but some groups have yet to be completed, with further qualification matches to be played ahead of next summer's tournament in North America.

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Several European nations are looking to book their spot, including Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland and Turkey.

Not to mention nations away from Europe, including Congo DR, who face the winner of New Caledonia vs. Jamaica for a place at the World Cup.

Congo DR beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in the final of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) play-offs in November, advancing them to the FIFA intercontinental play-offs.

Congo DR beat Nigeria last month to reach the FIFA intercontinental play-offs. Image: Getty
Congo DR beat Nigeria last month to reach the FIFA intercontinental play-offs. Image: Getty

But Congo DR's victory has been called into question as Nigeria have lodged a complaint to FIFA over the use of up to nine ineligible players in their game last month, according to a report from ESPN.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) join Cameroon, who had initially filed a similar complaint to FIFA about the eligibility of some of the players who were born in Europe but switched allegiances to represent Congo internationally.

The NFF are challenging Congo DR's use of several dual nationality players during the World Cup qualifying campaign, claiming they were ineligible on the basis of not being properly cleared to switch nationalities.

It has been suggested that between six to nine players used by Congo DR during the qualifiers may have switched international allegiances, but may not have gone through the process of giving up their European passports in line with Congolese law before representing the Central African nation.

NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi said: "The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality.

"There are so many of them that have European passports, some of them French passports, some of them Dutch passports. The rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now but we have submitted our protest to FIFA.

"There are players that got theirs in just three months. So there is to us, what is considered as a breach of the regulation. That is why took that decision."

Nigeria have issued a complaint to FIFA over Congo DR. Image: Getty
Nigeria have issued a complaint to FIFA over Congo DR. Image: Getty

Congolese Constitution does not recognise dual citizenship, but FIFA's own regulations only require players to hold the passports of the representative country in order to be cleared to play for that country.

FIFA cleared the players to play on the basis of them holding Congolese passports.

All the players involved hold Congolese passports, but NFF chief Sanusi claims that FIFA were deceived into issuing those clearances.

NFF officials claim the issue is being investigated by FIFA, who have yet to respond to the complaint.

A decision is expected before the intercontinental play-offs in March.

If Nigeria's appeal is successful, it would provide the Super Eagles a pathway back into World Cup qualifying.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: FIFA World Cup, FIFA

Nasir Jabbar
Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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@NasJabbar

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