FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), effectively banning Nepal from international football competitions, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Nepal, ranked 175th in the world, also has a women’s team positioned 88th globally. The suspension stems from what FIFA described as “undue interference by a third party” in the administration of football in the country, following disputes between ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council over governance issues.
In a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, the world football body stated that the decision, taken on Wednesday, was due to “flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes,” and takes immediate effect.
FIFA maintains that national associations must operate independently of government influence. However, tensions between ANFA and the sports council have persisted, including earlier suspension moves and repeated delays in holding elections originally agreed upon with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
The sports council had earlier suspended ANFA for three months in March 2026 during preparations for its electoral process, a ban that was later lifted in May. Despite this, the required elective congress has faced continued postponements amid directives from the council, including proposed statutory amendments under national sports law.
ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah described the suspension as “a matter of serious concern,” adding that efforts were underway with stakeholders to resolve the crisis and restore Nepal’s football activities.
The suspension also means Nepal will be excluded from international tournaments and lose access to FIFA development programmes, training, and courses, a setback Shah said would affect players and future prospects.
FIFA indicated the ban could be lifted if the sports council reverses its earlier actions and allows ANFA to complete its electoral process without interference.
