FIFA suspends Nepal due to third‑party interference

FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), effectively excluding Nepal from all international football competitions, officials announced on Thursday.

Nepal is currently ranked 175th in FIFA’s world rankings. The women’s national team ranks 88th.

In a letter to ANFA, FIFA explained that the suspension followed “undue interference by a third party,” referencing disputes between ANFA and the National Sports Council over control of Nepali football.

FIFA holds that a national football association must operate independently of government bodies.

FIFA decided on Wednesday “to suspend ANFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes,” FIFA’s Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said in the letter, which ANFA shared on Facebook.

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

The required elective congress has been repeatedly delayed, with the sports council issuing several directives, including the amendment of ANFA’s statutes under the country’s sports development act.

“The suspension is an issue of grave concern, we are consulting with all stakeholders to lift the suspension keeping Nepal’s football in priority,” ANFA spokesman Suresh Shah told AFP.

The suspension means Nepal can no longer participate in international competitions and the association will lose out on FIFA development programmes, courses or training.

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

FIFA said the suspension will be lifted if the council revokes its March decisions and allows ANFA to finalise its electoral process.

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