Ivory Coast’s football federation has confirmed that forward Elye Wahi was denied entry to Canada ahead of the national team’s next FIFA World Cup fixture. The 23-year-old Nice striker is currently under investigation by French authorities over alleged spot-fixing.
Wahi was arrested on May 29, 2026, by French anti-corruption police in Marseille. The probe centers on unusual betting activity flagged around a yellow card he received during a Ligue 1 match against Metz on May 17, 2026.
What happened with Wahi
Despite the arrest, Wahi was released without charges and was initially permitted to travel to North America for the 2026 World Cup. He featured in Ivory Coast’s opening group-stage victory against Ecuador on June 14, 2026.
The next scheduled match for Ivory Coast was against Germany on June 20, 2026. Canadian border authorities apparently took a different view of his situation than his initial travel clearance suggested.
