Reports Allege FIFA Allowed Ineligible Congo Goalkeeper to Play at World Cup

Reports by The New York Times and Le Monde have raised questions about FIFA’s handling of Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi’s eligibility, alleging that the governing body knew he had not completed the process to represent the country before allowing him to continue playing.

The reports, which cited internal FIFA documents, said Mpasi was allegedly never eligible to play for Congo. The claims have not been independently established in the available information, and no final ruling on his status has been identified.

Questions over Mpasi’s eligibility

Mpasi, 32, was previously a France under-17 international and has family ties to Congo. According to the reports, however, he did not complete the formal process required to change his national eligibility from France to Congo.

Despite the alleged unresolved status, Mpasi participated in all four of Congo’s World Cup matches. His appearances included the team’s 1-1 draw with Portugal, a match involving Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese national side.

The goalkeeper also played in five of Congo’s qualifying matches during the preceding year. Those games included Congo’s victory over Jamaica in March, a result described in the source material as helping send the country to its first World Cup in more than five decades.

Possible impact on qualifying

The reports alleged that, under FIFA rules, Congo’s results in qualifying matches in which Mpasi played could have been forfeited if he was deemed ineligible. According to the FIFA documents as described by the publications, applying such a consequence would have enabled Burkina Faso to reach the African playoffs instead.

The available information does not establish whether any of Congo’s results were ultimately forfeited, nor does it provide a final FIFA decision on Mpasi’s eligibility. It also does not include a response from FIFA to the allegations.

The claims place renewed attention on the procedures used to assess player eligibility and on how governing bodies respond when questions arise during major international competitions. For Congo, the issue touches a World Cup campaign that marked the country’s return to the tournament after more than five decades.