With just over a year to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, FIFA has announced the exclusion of three nations from the tournament. The absence of Russia, already sanctioned after the invasion of Ukraine, was expected. On the other hand, the decision to also deprive Congo and Pakistan of participation is a strong measure by the international body.
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will mark a turning point with the expansion from thirty-two to forty-eight teams. This expanded format aims to promote the inclusion of new nations and strengthen the development of football on all continents.
Despite this openness, FIFA imposes strict rules on its member federations. Russia remains excluded due to the conflict in Ukraine, as was already the case for previous competitions. Two other countries are also sanctioned for different reasons, linked to failures in the management of their national federation.
A decision with limited impact on the competition
Pakistan, meanwhile, is suspended for failing to adopt a new constitution that would guarantee fair and democratic elections for its national federation. The world football body demands transparent and impartial governance. To hope to be reinstated, the country will have to approve the version of the statutes proposed by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
The absence of these three nations will not fundamentally change the final phase of the tournament. Congo occupied the last place in its group in the qualifiers of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and had little hope of qualifying. Pakistan finds itself in a similar situation in Asia. With these exclusions, other nations will benefit from new opportunities.
The distribution of places at the next World Cup will change with sixteen European teams instead of thirteen, an increase in the number of representatives for Africa, which will have up to ten, and an Asian contingent of up to nine teams. The 2026 World Cup will thus mark a new stage in the evolution of the tournament, despite the constraints imposed by FIFA on certain federations.