The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has been suspended by FIFA following accusations of undue third-party interference. FIFA's Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said the decision was made after ANFA was suspended by Nepal's National Sports Council in March 2026 for three months.

ANFA was preparing for an election process at the time, which FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation had agreed to. However, the National Sports Council repeatedly delayed the elective congress, issuing directives that included amending ANFA's statutes.

ANFA's spokesman, Suresh Shah, called the suspension 'an issue of grave concern.' The suspension means Nepal's football teams can no longer participate in international competitions, and the association will lose access to FIFA development programmes.

The National Sports Council's member secretary, Ram Charitra Mehta, claimed the government never wanted this situation to occur. FIFA has said the suspension will be lifted if the council revokes its March decisions and allows ANFA to finalize its electoral process.

The suspension is a significant blow to Nepal's football scene. The country's women's national team is ranked 88th globally, while the men's team ranks 175th. The suspension will impact Nepal's ability to participate in international competitions and will affect the country's aspiring footballers.

FIFA requires national football associations to operate independently of government bodies. The suspension is a result of the National Sports Council's interference in ANFA's affairs.

Nepal's National Sports Council had previously suspended ANFA in March 2026 for three months. The council claimed the suspension was necessary to ensure the association's governance was improved.

FIFA has said the suspension will continue until the National Sports Council revokes its March decisions and allows ANFA to finalize its electoral process.

The suspension marks the second time this year that a national football association has been suspended by FIFA due to governance issues. In January 2026, the Maldives Football Association was suspended following allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.

The suspension has sparked concerns about the impact on Nepal's footballers and fans. ANFA has said it is consulting with stakeholders to try and resolve the situation and lift the suspension.

"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.

FIFA has said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide support to ANFA as needed.

The suspension has raised questions about the relationship between sports authorities and government bodies in Nepal. The country's sports authorities have been accused of interfering in the affairs of national football associations in the past.

"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.

In the meantime, Nepal's football teams will be unable to participate in international competitions, and the country's aspiring footballers will miss out on opportunities to develop their skills.

  • The FIFA suspension will be in effect until the National Sports Council revokes its March decisions and allows ANFA to finalize its electoral process.
  • The suspension will impact Nepal's ability to participate in international competitions, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • ANFA has said it is consulting with stakeholders to try and resolve the situation and lift the suspension.
  • The suspension marks the second time this year that a national football association has been suspended by FIFA due to governance issues.
  • Nepal's women's national team is ranked 88th globally, while the men's team ranks 175th.
  • ANFA was suspended by the National Sports Council in March 2026 for three months.
  • The council claimed the suspension was necessary to ensure the association's governance was improved.
  • The suspension will affect the country's aspiring footballers and will impact Nepal's ability to develop its football scene.
  • FIFA requires national football associations to operate independently of government bodies.
  • The suspension is a result of the National Sports Council's interference in ANFA's affairs.