FIFA suspends Nepal from international football competitions

FIFA, the body that runs world football, has suspended Nepal's football association. Officials announced this on Thursday. This suspension means Nepal cannot take part in any international competitions.

Nepal is ranked 175th in FIFA’s world rankings. Meanwhile, the women’s national team is ranked 88th.

FIFA explained in a letter to the All Nepal Football Association that the suspension followed "undue interference by a third party." This refers to disputes between the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and Nepal’s National Sports Council. The council is in charge of sports in Nepal and has been arguing over how football should be governed in the country.

FIFA believes that a national football association must work independently from government bodies. On Wednesday, FIFA decided "to suspend ANFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes." This was stated by FIFA’s Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom in a letter shared by ANFA on Facebook.

The sports council had previously suspended ANFA in March 2026 for three months. This was while the association was getting ready for an election process that FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation had agreed to. The suspension was lifted in May.

The necessary elective congress has been delayed multiple times. The sports council has given several orders, including changing ANFA’s statutes under the country’s sports development act.

ANFA spokesman Suresh Shah said, "The suspension is an issue of grave concern; we are consulting with all stakeholders to lift the suspension, keeping Nepal’s football in priority." This suspension means Nepal will miss out on FIFA development programs, courses, and training.

Shah added, "It impacts our players, barring them from opportunities and dampens dreams of aspiring players."

FIFA stated that the suspension will be lifted if the sports council cancels its March decisions and allows ANFA to complete its electoral process.

Ram Charitra Mehta, a member secretary of the National Sports Council, said, "The government never wanted this… we are looking for alternative ways to address this crisis."