FIFA faces questions over DR Congo World Cup eligibility controversy

Wednesday 07 - 19:45

The qualification of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come under scrutiny following an investigation by French newspaper Le Monde, which raises questions about the eligibility of one of the team’s players and the way FIFA handled the case.

According to documents reviewed by Le Monde, FIFA was aware of concerns surrounding goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, whose international history with France’s youth teams could have created an eligibility issue under the governing body’s regulations.

A disputed international status

Mpasi, a 32-year-old goalkeeper who plays for Le Havre, has represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo at senior level since 2022. Before switching to the Congolese national setup, however, he had appeared for France in several youth competitions.

Le Monde reports that Mpasi played at least five matches for French youth national teams, including appearances during the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Those previous international commitments became central to questions over whether he could subsequently represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The issue concerns FIFA's rules governing changes of sporting nationality. Such a switch is subject to specific conditions and requires the relevant administrative process to be completed before a player can be considered eligible for another national team.

Fecofa's application reportedly remained unfinished

The Congolese Football Federation, known as Fecofa, reportedly began the procedure to change Mpasi's international affiliation in 2021. However, according to legal assessments cited by Le Monde, the process was never formally completed.

That finding could have significant implications because Mpasi subsequently featured in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's qualifying campaign. If the goalkeeper was not legally eligible at the time of those appearances, questions could arise over matches in which he participated and, potentially, the validity of the qualification process.

The controversy therefore extends beyond the player's individual status. It also raises questions about the mechanisms used to verify player eligibility during international competitions and about the responsibility of football authorities when doubts emerge.

Gianni Infantino under scrutiny

The investigation also places FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the centre of questions over the handling of the case. Le Monde alleges that FIFA leadership was involved in a process that ultimately allowed the Democratic Republic of the Congo to continue its World Cup campaign despite the concerns surrounding Mpasi.

The allegations do not, by themselves, establish that Infantino personally authorized an improper qualification. Rather, they point to questions about what FIFA officials knew, when they knew it and how the governing body responded to the player's disputed status.

The case could consequently fuel renewed debate about FIFA's governance and the consistency with which eligibility regulations are applied to national teams.

A controversy with wider consequences

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's qualification for the 2026 World Cup has been presented as a major sporting achievement for the country. Any confirmed breach of eligibility rules, however, could transform the issue into an institutional controversy involving both Fecofa and FIFA.

For now, the allegations stem from the investigation and documents examined by Le Monde. Establishing whether the relevant regulations were actually breached, and whether that breach should have affected the qualification campaign, would require a formal determination by the competent football authorities.

The affair nevertheless highlights the importance of transparent eligibility procedures in international football, where the status of a single player can potentially have consequences far beyond the pitch.