- FIFA has previously banned three countries from World Cup participation due to political reasons
- These bans were imposed due to conflicts, sanctions, or discriminatory policies, not footballing performance
- Political tensions, rather than on-field performance, have historically influenced World Cup eligibility
Throughout World Cup history, FIFA has taken the drastic step of banning countries from competing due to political circumstances, with three nations ultimately excluded for reasons far beyond football.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, which has increased from 32 to 48 teams, has opened the door for several debutants, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde among them, who are set to make their first appearance on the global stage next summer.
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At one point, Israel also appeared to have an outside chance of qualifying, a scenario that stirred debate amid the continuing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Many critics argued that FIFA should bar Israel from participation due to political tension and humanitarian concerns arising from the war.
Ultimately, no ruling was required, as Norway and Italy claimed the top two positions in Israel’s qualifying group, ending any potential controversy before it began.
However, the idea of excluding nations over political actions is far from unprecedented.
FIFA has banned three countries in the past for reasons directly tied to global conflict, government policy, or violations of international norms, the most recent and ongoing case being Russia.
Russia
Russia remains suspended from FIFA competitions following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
As a result, the national team has been unable to participate in qualifiers or FIFA-sanctioned tournaments and instead plays a limited schedule of international friendlies, mostly against non-European nations such as Zambia and Grenada.
More than three years into the conflict, civilian casualties in Ukraine had surpassed 13,800 by July 2025, and both FIFA and UEFA have maintained strict sanctions.
Russian clubs are also barred from European competitions including the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
South Africa
South Africa’s exclusion dates back to 1961 during the height of apartheid.
FIFA initially suspended the nation due to its racial segregation policies, though the ban was controversially lifted in 1963 under then-president Stanley Rous, an ally of the apartheid-era football authorities.
FIFA even attempted to place South Africa in an Asian qualifying group to ease African opposition.
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Nonetheless, African federations successfully campaigned for their re-suspension. In 1976, after Joao Havelange replaced Rous, South Africa was formally expelled from FIFA. Only after apartheid ended were they reinstated in 1992.
Their footballing fortunes soon flourished, they won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and hosted the World Cup in 2010, before settling into a quieter but stable era.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia was banned from the 1994 World Cup due to UN-imposed sanctions during the Yugoslav Wars.
In May 1992, Security Council Resolution 757 forbade the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) from taking part in international sporting events.
Though the team had qualified, the ruling prevented their participation in the tournament in the United States, marking one of the most significant politically driven exclusions in World Cup history.
Full list of qualified teams for 2026 World Cup
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported on the countries that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In all, 31 nations have confirmed their spots at the tournament.
Portugal has become the latest nation to secure their spot after thumping Armenia to qualify in style without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
