FIFA let DR Congo field ineligible goalkeeper on road to World Cup, investigations find

Investigations by Le Monde and The New York Times found FIFA discovered DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was ineligible but imposed no punishment.

• FIFA's legal team decided in March 2026 that Mpasi, a former France youth international, had not completed his transfer to DR Congo, the investigations found.
• The Nigerian federation filed a complaint in November 2025 after losing to DR Congo on penalties in the African playoff final.
• FIFA rejected the complaint for procedural and time reasons, saying the disciplinary committee's decision is final and binding.
• DR Congo qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years and reached the round of 32, where England eliminated them.
• FIFA's lawyers recommended sanctions against DR Congo, including exclusion from the World Cup playoff against Jamaica, but no action was taken.
• The reports add pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino following the separate Folarin Balogun red-card suspension case.