Ivory Coast’s Elye Wahi granted Canadian visa hours after denial | World Cup 2026
Ivory Coast Forward Elye Wahi Granted Travel Authorization for World Cup Match Against Germany
Published June 18, 2026
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has received travel authorization to enter Canada for the World Cup match against Germany this Saturday, according to a statement from the Ivorian Football Federation. This development comes hours after the federation announced Wahi would not be able to travel due to a visa issue.
“The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) reports that Elye Wahi’s administrative situation has evolved favorably. The necessary authorizations for his entry into Canadian territory have now been obtained,” the federation stated on its official account on platform X.
Wahi was previously linked to an investigation involving suspected sports corruption. French authorities revealed that unusual betting patterns were detected regarding a yellow card he received during a Ligue 1 match while playing for Nice last month. Although a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was taken into custody on May 29 as part of this investigation, Wahi was not named as a suspect.
His lawyer, Marie Dose, indicated that Wahi had been questioned “for a few hours” last month but was subsequently released without any charges. “Elye Wahi is therefore not facing charges at this stage and is not subject to any judicial restrictions,” she added.
The FIF expressed confidence in Wahi amidst the investigation. “To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any legal or administrative proceedings concerning him,” the federation affirmed. “During this particularly difficult period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Ivory Coast national team.”
Initially, Wahi was set to remain in the United States while the team traveled to Canada due to the lack of administrative authorizations.
Wahi, who previously represented France at the under-21 level, made his senior debut for Ivory Coast in March. The national team secured a 1-0 victory against Ecuador in their first Group E match. Meanwhile, Germany recently achieved a decisive 7-1 win over Curacao.
In related news, Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey missed a recent match against Panama due to a failed appeal regarding his Canadian visa. Partey is currently facing multiple charges of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom.
