FIFA threatens a national team with exclusion from the 2026 World Cup – sends them an official letter

FIFA has reportedly threatened to ban a country from international football and the 2026 World Cup, after sending an official letter to its government.

In addition to Canada, Mexico and the United States, four other national teams have secured qualification for the next World Cup.

Iran and Japan qualified from the AFC section earlier this week, while Argentina has already qualified from South America. New Zealand is the fourth team to qualify for the tournament, via the OFC section.

The next World Cup will see an increase in competing nations from 32 to 48, giving the so-called 'smaller' national teams, in football terms, a greater opportunity than ever to qualify.

Several teams will not be participating in the World Cup due to FIFA suspensions. Russia is banned for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while Pakistan and Congo were excluded from qualification due to administrative failures and third-party interference respectively.

FT in Moscow. #FIFAInternationalFriendly #WeAreChipolopolo #RUSZAM pic.twitter.com/0rlPPJ8hbc

— FAZ (@FAZFootball) March 25, 2025

But another nation – which recently played against Russia in a friendly – ​​could now be banned from the World Cup.

According to Soccer24.zw, FIFA has written to the Zambia Football Association to warn them that they could be completely suspended from playing international football.

Soccer24.zw – the Zimbabwean media outlet – reports that the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), a government organization, had initially written to FIFA to request the establishment of an independent electoral body and a 'full review of the Football Association of Zambia's electoral process'.

FIFA regulations prohibit third-party influence in a country's football affairs, including government bodies.

Read too UEFA has banned the organization of seven matches between European national teams, Kosovo and Albania are mentioned

In February, Zambia Football Association president Andrew Kamanga was given a third term in office unopposed, due to the disqualification of eight other candidates for failing to meet constitutional requirements.

However, following the launch of independent appeals, the four candidates had their disqualifications overturned. The elections will take place between March 15 and 29, with a general meeting of the Zambia FA scheduled for the latter date.

Meanwhile, Kamanga is positive that FIFA will not ban Zambia from competing in international football.

"Ideally, it shouldn't," he declared. "Because for me what I believe is that with FIFA we had a roadmap and we agreed in December on that program that the elections would start from March 15 to March 29."

On the field, Zambia is currently managed by former Chelsea and West Ham manager Avram Grant. /Telegraph/