The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico. – Russia is already out and now two more countries have had their football associations suspended by FIFA due to “serious circumstances”.
The next edition of the global tournament, held every four years, will take place in three countries in the summer of 2026.
The United States will be the largest host for the trio with a total of 11 stadiums due to stage play, three cities in Mexico and two in Canada completing the tournament’s composition.
Argentina are the defending champions who have won their third World Cup in the competition held in the winter of 2022 in Qatar, beating France on penalties after a 3-3 draw after extra time. Last year, FIFA and UEFA decided to maintain Russia’s ban from worldwide competitions until the 2026 World Cup.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has been banned from both FIFA and UEFA competitions since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. This means that neither the men’s nor the women’s team can play in the World Cup or the European Championship. Domestic clubs also cannot play in UEFA competitions.
In Europe, the draw of the qualifying groups was made in December and Russia was the only UEFA member not to be included with the remaining 54 nations divided into a dozen groups.
Now, FIFA has suspended the football associations of two other nations with immediate effect due to “serious circumstances” – Both nations are banned until after the 2026 World Cup.
The two countries are Congo and Pakistan, and FIFA has explained the reasons why both nations were suspended.
FIFA has banned the Congolese Football Federation, known as FECOFOOT, for what is described as a “particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties” in its affairs.
A statement from FIFA reads: “FECOFOOT has been suspended with immediate effect due to a particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties in the affairs of the organization, which constitutes a clear breach of FECOFOOT’s obligations under the FIFA Statutes.
“The decision was made in consultation with CAF after two FIFA/CAF missions were sent to Brazzaville.”
FIFA says the suspension will only be lifted under several conditions, including returning FECOFOOT’s headquarters to full control of the Congolese Football Federation, halting any efforts to “change the signatories” of FECOFOOT’s bank accounts, giving decisions to an ad hoc committee and ensuring full cooperation to allow the federation to operate without any third-party influence.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has also been suspended after it failed to pass a revised constitution that would “ensure truly fair and democratic elections.”
The FIFA statement reads: “The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC.”
Congo are currently bottom of Group E in the CAF qualification section, while Pakistan finished bottom of Group G in the second round of the AFC Confederation qualification process.
