Ivory Coast striker Wahi denied Canadian visa for World Cup Germany match due to match-fixing probe
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been denied a visa to enter Canada for their World Cup Group E clash against Germany at Toronto Stadium on June 18, 2026. According to The Athletic, the denial stems from an ongoing match-fixing investigation involving Wahi, which violates Canadian immigration entry requirements. Ivory Coast won their tournament opener 1-0 against Ecuador earlier this week.
This mirrors last week's situation where Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey was barred from Canada over sexual assault allegations, missing Ghana's 1-0 victory against Panama. Both cases highlight how off-field legal issues are impacting African teams' World Cup preparations and lineup availability. Wahi's absence weakens Ivory Coast's attacking options as they seek to advance from Group E.
With visa complications affecting multiple African squads, how might consistent enforcement of such immigration policies reshape team strategies and tournament competitiveness moving forward?