Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi has been denied entry into Canada for his country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Group match against Germany in Toronto on Saturday, the Ivory Coast Football Federation confirmed on 18 June 2026.
The federation said the necessary administrative authorisations for Wahi’s entry into Canadian territory had not been obtained, and that the 23-year-old would remain in the United States while the squad travelled to Toronto. He becomes the second player at this tournament to be refused entry into Canada, following Ghana’s Thomas Partey, who is awaiting trial in Britain on rape charges.
Wahi’s visa refusal comes amid an ongoing match-fixing investigation in France. The French football league flagged an unusual volume of bets placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match between Nice and Metz on 17 May 2026, which ended 0-0. Wahi was shown a yellow card in that game, prompting the league to alert police, gambling authorities and the French football federation.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 23-year-old professional footballer was arrested on 29 May as part of an investigation into alleged organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering. The player was questioned and released without charge. The investigation remains ongoing.
Wahi had started Ivory Coast’s opening match, a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia on 15 June. His representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
The Ivory Coast federation said it had not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings concerning Wahi and offered its full support to the player. “Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Ivory Coast national team,” the federation said.
