2026 World Cup: Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi is blocked from entering Canada

Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi will not be allowed into Canada for his country's World Cup game against Germany, which takes place this Saturday. The player, who plays for Nice, was arrested last month for alleged links with match-fixing in Ligue 1. At 23 years old, Wahi had already started in Ivory Coast's victory over Ecuador last Sunday and is accused of having deliberately received a yellow card during Nice's match against Metz in May. This practice, known as match manipulation, aims to alter match incidents to profit from betting.

A statement from the Marseille Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed the player's arrest but did not mention his name. On Wednesday, the Professional Football League (LFP) said it had received alerts about an unusual volume of bets on a warning involving Elye Wahi.

The Ivory Coast football federation (FIF) said it had not received notifications of any "judicial or administrative proceedings" against Wahi, but confirmed that he was unable to obtain authorization to enter Canada. "The Ivory Coast Football Federation has taken note of the various articles and information published this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, regarding Ivorian international Elye Wahi," the note reads. "To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative process involving him. In such a delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi continues to be an important element of the Ivory Coast national team. The FIF also informs that the player will not be able to accompany the delegation on the trip to Canada. In fact, the administrative authorizations necessary for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this time. Therefore, Elye Wahi will remain in the United States awaiting his return of the team."


After facing Germany in Toronto, Ivory Coast will play Curaçao next Thursday in Philadelphia. The statement from the Marseille Public Prosecutor's Office revealed that the arrest was part of an investigation into allegations of organized fraud, corruption in sport, money laundering and the handling of proceeds of crime. The player was released after being questioned at the police station, and investigations continue.

The yellow card Wahi received in the game was his fifth in the league, resulting in his suspension for Nice's first relegation playoff match against Saint-Etienne on 26 May. The game ended 0–0, but Wahi returned in the second match, where he scored twice in a 4–1 victory, helping Nice maintain their position in the top flight. BBC Sport has contacted Wahi's representatives and FIFA for comment. The LFP stated: "At this time, and given the ongoing investigation and confidentiality requirements imposed by law enforcement authorities, the LFP will make no further comment and has not initiated disciplinary proceedings. However, it reserves the right to do so depending on the progress of the investigation. The LFP reiterates that it remains fully committed to ensuring the integrity of its competitions and will act with the utmost firmness against any behavior that may compromise it."

Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry into Canada, after Ghana's ThomasPartey, who was refused a visa due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. Former Arsenal midfielder Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault, relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year. Partey misinformed Canadian authorities that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime and missed Ghana's victory over Panama as a result. The Ghanaian government attempted to obtain permission for him to enter the country briefly to participate in the game, but the request was denied in federal court in Ottawa.

---

Related Articles

1. [World Cup 2026](https://oranjenet.live/nl/news/hoe-het-wk-2026-voor-mannen-te-bekijken-tv-streaming-en-volledig-schema-voor-alle-104-wedstrijden) 2. [Hoe staan de kansen voor teams op een derde plaats in het WK 2026?](https://oranjenet.live/nl/news/hoe-staan-de-kansen-voor-teams-op-een-derde-plaats-in-het-wk-2026)