Canada gives Wahi the green light to travel for World Cup clash, Ivory Coast confirms

Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is under investigation for alleged betting-related offences, has been given the green light to travel to Canada for his country's World Cup match against Germany, according to the Ivorian football federation.

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The federation had initially indicated that the 23-year-old would be unable to make the trip, but later confirmed that the necessary authorisations had been secured, as reported by ESPN on Friday.

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French police arrested Wahi in May as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged spot-fixing activities, as quoted by PUNCH Online from Athletic on Thursday.

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Wahi had started in Monday's 1-0 win over the Ecuador national football team in Philadelphia, and the Elephants are set to face Germany on Saturday in Toronto in their second match of the tournament.

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Taous Ait, a spokesperson for Canada's immigration minister, declined to comment on the situation, citing the need for authorisation from the individual concerned.

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The French soccer league revealed on Wednesday that an "unusual amount of bets" were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a match on May 17 while he was playing for OGC Nice.

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The league was alerted by betting-monitoring partners regarding suspicious activity around Nice's home match against Metz, which ended 0-0 and in which Wahi was booked, and the information was passed on to police, gambling regulators, and the French soccer federation.

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The Marseille prosecutor's office confirmed that a 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France's Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026, as part of their investigation, and that the player was questioned while in custody and later released without being detained.

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The investigation concerns alleged offences of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering, according to the Marseille prosecutor's office.

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Representatives for Wahi did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the Ivorian football federation said it has not been formally informed "of any judicial or administrative proceedings" regarding Wahi.

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The Ivorian football federation added that it "offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him," and stated: "Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Ivory Coast national team."

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Wahi joined OGC Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, scoring nine goals in 18 appearances across all competitions and helping the club reach the French Cup final, which concluded on May 17.

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Wahi later scored twice within two weeks to help Nice retain top-flight status in a 4-1 victory over AS Saint-Étienne in the second leg of the promotion-relegation playoffs.