FIFA have suspended Nepal from international football at all levels over third-party interference. The South Asian nation are ranked 177th in the world, according to the latest FIFA rankings, which puts them ahead of international minnows such as San Marino, Gibraltar and Pakistan.FIFA have taken drastic action over Nepal’s involvement in international footballGettyBut Nepal won’t be able to build on their position anytime soon, with FIFA taking drastic action to suspend the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) until further notice.The indefinite ban comes with Nepal’s governing body accused of being subject to third-party interference.Nepal’s National Sports Council had previously issued the ANFA with a three-month suspension, but this was later rescinded.However, after a warning from FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Nepal are unable to participate in any international competitions.This is said to be due to the ANFA committing ‘flagrant violations of the FIFA statutes linked to interference by a third party’.As well as being banned from football until further notice, Nepal are also not entitled to any funding from FIFA to the AFC whilst suspended.According to major Nepalese news outlet, the Kathmandu Post, the National Sports Council refused to recognise an ANFA election.The current ANFA executive committee, led by the body’s president Pankaj Bikram Nembang, has already seen their tenure end.Zero toleranceAnnouncing the ANFA’s ban in a statement, FIFA said: “We hereby inform you that, as a result of the decision taken by the Bureau of the Council on 24 June 2026, ANFA has been suspended until further notice in accordance with Article 16 of the FIFA Statutes.“Consequently, with effect from 24 June 2026, ANFA has lost all of its membership rights, as defined in Article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, until further notice. Nepal’s most recent international game was against Laos in MarchGetty“ANFA representative and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.“This also means that neither ANFA nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses, or training from FIFA and/or the AFC. “Moreover, we would remind you and your affiliates not to enter into any sporting contact with ANFA and/or its teams while ANFA is suspended.“Finally, the Bureau of the Council or the FIFA Council may lift this suspension at any time before the next FIFA Congress takes place. Should this occur, we will inform you accordingly,” Nepal aren’t the first nation to be handed a suspension by FIFA in recent years. The Republic of Congo and Pakistan have both previously been banned for third-party inference, before earning their place back in FIFA’s good books.Brazilian football great Roberto Carlos made a special visit to Nepal’s Dasaratha Stadium for a Nepalese Super League game in 2025GettyIt appears that Nepal will have the same opportunity to end their international exile in the near future.They are currently the second country to be suspended from all international football, along with Russia, who are still prohibited by FIFA and UEFA relating to the invasion of Ukraine.Nepal have never qualified for a major international tournament but did win the AFC Solidarity Cup in 2016 – which no longer exists.Their highest FIFA ranking came between 1993 and 1994 when they were listed as 124th in the world, with their lowest coming in January 2016 when they dropped to 196.FIFA’s decision to ban Nepal from international football comes with the organisation coming in for plenty of criticism during this summer’s World Cup.President Gianni Infantino has faced backlash over several issues – namely Somali referee Omar Artan’s being barred from entering the USA ahead of the tournament, while Iran’s continued training outside the States has also proven controversial.