FIFA is facing fresh scrutiny over its handling of player eligibility after reports that its lawyers identified a problem with Democratic Republic of Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi’s international status before the country qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
The development has also revived Nigeria’s dispute over its elimination by DR Congo, with the National Sports Commission considering whether to seek compensation from FIFA.
Investigations by The New York Times and Le Monde, citing internal FIFA documents, reported that the governing body’s lawyers determined in March 2026 that Mpasi had not completed the formal process required to switch his international allegiance from France to DR Congo.
Mpasi, who represented France at youth level, had begun the change-of-association process in 2021 but reportedly never completed it. He nevertheless featured in several of DR Congo’s World Cup qualifiers, including the African play-off final against Nigeria in Rabat on November 16, 2025.
DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time, ending Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
The Nigeria Football Federation subsequently challenged the eligibility of several DR Congo players, but FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee declared the complaint inadmissible on procedural grounds.
The reported internal assessment of Mpasi’s case, however, considered possible sanctions including forfeiting matches in which he played, financial penalties and allowing Nigeria to replace DR Congo in the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica.
No sporting sanction was imposed.
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DR Congo went on to defeat Jamaica 1-0 after extra time on March 31, 2026, securing a World Cup place. The Leopards reached the Round of 32 before losing 2-1 to England, with Mpasi starting in goal.
The handling of the case has drawn comparisons with FIFA’s treatment of South Africa during the same qualifying cycle.
South Africa was sanctioned in March 2025 after fielding suspended midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho. FIFA awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory and fined the South African Football Association CHF10,000.
The precedent has raised questions over why a similar sporting sanction was not imposed on DR Congo if the reported concerns about Mpasi were established.
FIFA has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and denied that President Gianni Infantino influenced the case, maintaining that its judicial bodies operate independently.
It has also dismissed suggestions that the matter was connected to Véron Mosengo-Omba, a former FIFA secretary-general who became president of the Congolese football federation in May 2026.
Nigeria is now weighing possible legal and financial remedies. A senior National Sports Commission official told ESPN that the country could seek compensation for losses associated with missing the World Cup, although no formal claim has been filed.
Jamaica, which lost to DR Congo in the intercontinental play-off, has also indicated that it will seek clarification from FIFA.
The controversy has widened into a broader test of FIFA’s consistency in applying its player-eligibility and disciplinary rules.