World Cup Visa U-Turn: Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi Let Into Canada After Late-Night Reversal

Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi found himself at the center of a diplomatic scramble this World Cup after Canadian border officials initially refused him entry ahead of the Elephants' group match against Germany in Toronto. According to reporting from the BBC, the Guardian and CBC, the decision stemmed from an ongoing French investigation into alleged match-fixing involving Wahi's club career, a probe serious enough to trigger admissibility concerns The reversal came within hours. Ivory Coast's football federation confirmed that Wahi received authorization to travel after Canadian authorities completed a review, allowing him to suit up for the group-stage clash. FIFA and tournament organizers did not detail exactly what changed, but immigration lawyers noted that admissibility findings tied to open investigations, rather than convictions, are often reassessed quickly when new information or assurances are provided.

Wahi's case unfolded alongside a far more consequential dispute involving Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who was barred entirely from Canada for a separate reason. Together, the episodes have turned routine border screening into one of the storylines of the 2026 tournament, with several federations now reportedly pressing FIFA and Canadian officials for clearer guidance on how admissibility reviews will be handled for the remainder of the co-hosted event.

Immigration observers say the episode illustrates a broader tension at major international events: Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act allows border officers wide discretion to deny entry over pending criminal matters abroad, even absent a conviction, which can leave elite athletes and their federations facing last-minute uncertainty regardless of their sporting stature.

For now, Wahi remains available to Ivory Coast for the rest of the tournament, though the French match-fixing inquiry that triggered the scare is still active, meaning the question of his admissibility could resurface if Ivory Coast advances and travels between Canadian and American host cities.under Canadian immigration law even though the player has not been charged with a crime.