FIFA is the global governing body that oversees international football, beach football, and futsal.
Any country that wants to compete in international competition must first become a FIFA member and comply with its rules and regulations.
FIFA currently has 211 national associations as members, drawn from every continent on earth.
Despite that massive reach, a small number of sovereign nations remain outside the organisation for various reasons, from population size to infrastructure limitations.
Here are 10 countries that are not FIFA members.
10 Countries That Are Not Members of FIFA
1. Monaco
Monaco is one of the smallest sovereign nations in the world, located at the southern tip of France.
The principality has a population of roughly 38,000 residents living in an area of just 2.1 square kilometres.
Its extremely small population means it does not have a standing national team and, as a result, is not a member of FIFA or UEFA.
Monaco does have a domestic league competition called the Challenge Prince Rainier III, and AS Monaco competes in the French Ligue 1 as an unofficial representative of the country.
2. Vatican City
Vatican City is an independent city-state located within Rome and serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is recognised as a sovereign nation in its own right, occupying an area of approximately 49 acres.
Only around 493 people live within Vatican City, mostly priests and church workers of various nationalities.
Vatican City is not affiliated with FIFA and is one of the countries that do not have a national football team, though it does run its own internal Vatican City Championship.
3. Nauru
Nauru is a small island nation located in the Pacific Ocean with a population of roughly 11,000 people living on an island of just 21 square kilometres.
Its very small population makes it difficult to form and sustain a competitive national football team.
As a result, Nauru is not a member of FIFA and has no affiliated national association recognised by the global governing body.
4. Kiribati
Kiribati is a sovereign country made up of a collection of islands situated in the Pacific Ocean, with a population of approximately 120,000 spread across a total area of 811 square kilometres.
While Kiribati does have a national football championship, its football association is only an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation and has not gained full FIFA membership.
You can read more about countries with the most football clubs to understand how federation structure varies globally.
5. Palau
Palau is a Pacific island nation with a population of roughly 18,000 people living across a collection of 340 islands covering a total area of 459 square kilometres.
Like several other small Pacific nations on this list, Palau is not affiliated with FIFA due to its limited population base and the infrastructure challenges that come with it.
6. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a Pacific island nation with a total area of approximately 26 square kilometres and a population of around 12,000 people.
Despite being associated with the Oceania Football Confederation as an associate member, Tuvalu is not affiliated with FIFA as the parent body.
In September 2008, Tuvalu’s Prime Minister and the President of the Tuvalu Football Association visited FIFA headquarters in Zurich with plans to pursue full membership, but key obstacles such as the absence of a regulation-size pitch have prevented that from happening.
Tuvalu does run its own domestic A-Division competition.
7. Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands is a Pacific nation with a population of approximately 62,000 people living across an area of about 181 square kilometres.
Football is not a widely popular sport in the country, and the Marshall Islands has no national association affiliated with FIFA.
It is one of several Pacific island nations where the sport has not developed the infrastructure needed to pursue FIFA membership.
8. Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia is a collection of 607 islands in the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of approximately 702 square kilometres with around 104,500 inhabitants.
Like the other Pacific island nations on this list, Micronesia has no national football association affiliated with FIFA.
Football remains a minor sport in the territory, with no pathway to FIFA membership currently in place.
9. Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is a self-declared state in the northern part of the island of Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey as a sovereign nation.
Because FIFA membership requires international recognition as a sovereign state, Northern Cyprus is ineligible and remains outside the organisation.
Despite that, Northern Cyprus has one of the most active non-FIFA football scenes in the world, running its own KTFF Süper Lig and competing regularly in CONIFA tournaments, which is the Confederation of Independent Football Associations.
They are widely considered the strongest non-FIFA national team in existence and won the FIFI Wild Cup in 2006.
10. Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of around 56,000 people.
The Football Association of Greenland is not a member of FIFA, CONCACAF, or UEFA, which means its national team cannot participate in World Cup qualifying or any major FIFA-sanctioned tournament.
One of the key reasons Greenland has been repeatedly denied FIFA membership is the inability to grow natural grass pitches due to its arctic climate, which is a basic requirement for membership.
Greenland does run its own domestic Greenlandic Football Championship and has been one of the most high-profile cases of a football-playing nation unable to gain FIFA recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are not FIFA members?
Eight fully sovereign states are currently not FIFA members: Monaco, Vatican City, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, alongside territories and unrecognised states such as Northern Cyprus and Greenland.
Why are some countries not in FIFA?
The most common reasons are a population too small to sustain a national team, lack of a regulation-size pitch, failure to meet FIFA’s infrastructure requirements, or a lack of international recognition as a sovereign state.
Can non-FIFA countries play international football?
Yes, non-FIFA nations can compete through alternative organisations such as CONIFA, which stands for the Confederation of Independent Football Associations, and through the Island Games, which is a biennial multi-sport event for island territories.
Is Northern Cyprus the best non-FIFA team?
Northern Cyprus is widely regarded as the strongest non-FIFA national team in the world, having won multiple CONIFA and non-FIFA tournaments and maintaining a highly active competitive football programme.
Does Greenland have a football team?
Greenland does have a national football team and a domestic league, but it has been denied FIFA membership largely because its arctic climate makes it impossible to maintain natural grass pitches, which is a requirement for membership.
What organisation do non-FIFA teams compete in?
The main organisation for non-FIFA national teams is CONIFA, which as of 2025 has 42 member associations and runs its own World Football Cup and continental championships.
Does Monaco have a football team?
Monaco does not have a FIFA-affiliated national team due to its tiny population, but AS Monaco competes in the French Ligue 1 and serves as an unofficial football representative of the principality.
For more football facts and lists, check out countries with the most trophies in football, countries with the most football fans, and how many soccer teams are in the world.
