Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been granted travel clearance to visit Canada for this weekend’s World Cup match with Germany, the country’s soccer federation said Thursday, hours after saying he would not be able to travel because he had not received his visa.
«The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) reports that the administrative situation of Elye Wahi has evolved favorably. The necessary permits for its entry into Canadian territory have now been obtained,» a statement from the official said. X account of the Ivorian Football Association.
Canadian immigration officials did not immediately respond to an email inquiry from Reuters. Wahi was linked to an investigation into suspected sports corruption, with French authorities saying unusual betting patterns had been discovered surrounding a yellow card Wahi received in a Ligue 1 match while playing for Nice last month.
Wahi, who was not immediately available for comment, was not named as a suspect. This was said by a spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office Reuters a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was taken into custody on May 29 as part of an investigation into suspected organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling stolen goods and money laundering.
DIFFICULT PERIOD
The FIF said it had full confidence in Wahi.
“To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any legal or administrative proceedings against him,” the FIF said in a statement.
«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.»
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The FIF previously said Wahi would not be able to participate in the delegation’s trip to Canada.
«This is because the administrative permits required to enter Canadian territory have not yet been obtained. Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States until the team returns,» the report said. Wahi, who previously represented France at Under-21 level, made his senior international debut for Ivory Coast in March. Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador 1-0 in its first match in Group E, while Germany is coming off a 7-1 defeat to Curacao.
Published on June 19, 2026
