Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi will miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup group-stage match against Germany after being denied entry to Canada due to unresolved travel authorisation issues.
The 23-year-old striker, who started in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador in their opening Group E match, will remain in the United States while the rest of the squad travels to Toronto for Saturday’s game, according to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).
This development follows reports that Wahi was arrested in France last month as part of an investigation into alleged spot-fixing in Ligue 1. He is accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card while playing for Nice against Metz in May, an incident that reportedly drew unusual betting activity.
The Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was questioned as part of an investigation into alleged organised fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and handling the proceeds of crime. While prosecutors did not publicly identify the player, Wahi was released after questioning and the investigation is ongoing.
The French Professional Football League (LFP) has acknowledged reports of suspicious betting patterns related to Wahi’s booking. No disciplinary measures have been imposed, but the league stated that further action may be taken depending on the investigation’s outcome.
In a statement, the FIF said it had not been formally notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving the player and reiterated its support for him during the ongoing process.
The federation explained that Wahi’s absence is due to the failure to obtain the required administrative clearance for entry into Canada.
As a result, Wahi is expected to remain in the United States until the team returns after the match against Germany. Ivory Coast’s final group-stage fixture against Curaçao is scheduled for Philadelphia.
Wahi is the second player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be denied entry to Canada, following Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, whose visa application was rejected earlier this week due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
