International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is a non-profit organization that governs an international body of association football and beach football. Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, FIFA is the highest governing body of association football.
However, in this article, I will be sharing with you 6 countries in the world that are not part of FIFA:
1. Kiribati
Kiribati is an independent Oceanian island country located in the central Pacific Ocean.
Despite the country being dispersed around on many islands, football still thrives in the country that got its independence from the United Kingdom forty two years ago.
Kiribati is currently not a member of FIFA but is an affiliate member of the Oceania Football Confederation, and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup but may enter the Oceania Football Confederation Nations Cup.
The island nation are trying to gain entry into the football world, but are currently left alone to play football on their beautiful islands.
2. Monaco
Monaco is a sovereign country in Western Europe located on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by France and Italy.
Although football is one of the most popular sports in the country, Monaco is one of the few sovereign European national that is currently not members of FIFA. Also, Monaco is a non-member of UEFA and does not have a national team competing in UEFA Euro qualifiers or FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Monaco national team instead choose to play small-scale matches against non-FIFA members, usually across the border.
3. Nauru
Nauru is a small island country located in the northeastern part of Australia.
Football is one of the most unpopular sports in the island nation and as such, the country is currently not part of FIFA. It is not a member of the Oceania Football Confederation either.
4. Palau
Palau is an island sovereign Australian country located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Palau is currently one of few sovereign countries that is not affiliated with FIFA and is only an affiliate member of the Oceania Football Confederation. This implies that the country does not have a national team competing in FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Instead, the Palau national team choose to play small-scale matches against other countries that are not FIFA’s members
5. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is an Oceanian island nation located in the western of Pacific Ocean.
The island country is currently an affiliate member of the Oceania Football Confederation but not a member of FIFA.
Thirteen years ago, Apisai Ielemia, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, and Tapugao Falefou, the President of the Tuvalu Football Association, paid a visit to the headquarters of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, hoping to gain full membership in the organisation. However, eight years ago, Oceania Football Confederation General Secretariat, Tai Nicholas, cited Tuvalu’s lack of a regulation pitch as the major factor hampering the country from being accepted into FIFA.
6. Marshall Islands
Located about half-way between Hawaii and Australia, the Marshall Islands is a sovereign island Australian country in the Pacific Ocean.
In Marshall Islands, there is no organized football structure to speak of, no league either amateur or professional, no national team and no membership in FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation.
