FIFA has confirmed that one nation will not participate in the 2026 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Several countries have faced temporary suspensions during the qualifiers, while a few withdrew entirely from the process.
In Africa, Congo-Brazzaville lost its chance to qualify after being suspended earlier this year due to serious governance concerns within its football federation. As a result, matches against Zambia and Tanzania were canceled, with the opposing teams awarded 3-0 victories. Although the suspension was lifted in May, Congo-Brazzaville remains the only African team eliminated from the 2026 World Cup qualification, having lost all five of their previous matches.
Additionally, Eritrea withdrew from the qualifiers amid fears that players might seek asylum during away games. They remain the lowest-ranked FIFA nation after returning to international football earlier this year.
