Eritrea's men's football team has withdrawn from the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, a decision attributed to concerns that players might seek political asylum during international trips.
The joint statement from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the cancellation of all of Eritrea's matches just days before they were set to face Morocco.
The Eritrean National Football Federation (ENFF) has not officially commented, but it is believed that the decision stems from fears of players taking advantage of overseas fixtures to escape the country's oppressive regime.
Domestic-based players were reportedly preparing for the qualifying campaign for three months before being informed in late October that they would not be participating.
Reports suggest that the main reason behind the withdrawal is to prevent players from using national team trips to seek political asylum from Eritrea's restrictive government, known for imposing lifetime military service on many citizens.
Since 2009, over 60 players are estimated to have sought asylum using their status as international players.
ENFF members attempted to persuade the sports and culture ministry to allow the team to play, but Zemede Tekle, the commissioner for sports and culture, denied the request.
The decision has left players disheartened, with concerns about potential repercussions for protesting.
Eritrea has faced previous instances of players seeking asylum, with the most recent involving five female players who fled hours before a match in November 2021.
Notably, seven male players went missing in Uganda in 2019, and four Under-20 internationals fled in October 2019.
Eritrea, scheduled to face Zambia, Tanzania, and Sudan in World Cup qualifying, hasn't played since January 2020 and lacks a FIFA ranking due to inactivity.
All fixtures were to be played abroad due to the absence of a CAF-compliant stadium in Eritrea.
The Eritrean government's challenge lies in playing 10 games abroad, a logistical difficulty for the regime.
Despite having talented players, Eritrea's footballers often face restrictions on leaving the country which limit their opportunities to play abroad.
