The forward will be able to join up with the Toronto squad when they play against Germany on Saturday.
Published June 18, 2026
Ivory Coast forward Elie Wahi has been granted travel permission to visit Canada for this weekend’s World Cup match against Germany, the country’s soccer federation announced, hours after announcing he could not travel because he had not received a visa.
“The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has reported that Elie Wahi’s management situation remains favorable. The necessary permits for his entry into Canadian territory have now been obtained,” the Ivorian Football Federation’s official X account said in a statement on Thursday.
Wahy is involved in an investigation into allegations of sports corruption, with French authorities saying they had detected unusual gambling patterns over his yellow card in a Ligue 1 match with Nice last month.
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Wahi could not be reached for comment and has not been named as a suspect.
A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office announced that the 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was detained on May 29 as part of an investigation on suspicion of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling stolen goods and money laundering.
Wahi’s lawyer Marie Dawes said the player was questioned for “several hours” last month but later released.
“Eli Wahi is therefore not indicted at this stage and is not subject to any judicial restrictions,” she added.
“Tough times”
FIF said it had full confidence in Mr. Wahi.
“To date, FIF has not been formally informed of any legal or administrative proceedings regarding him,” FIF said in a statement.
“At this particularly difficult time, FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elly Wahi remains an important member of the Ivorian national team.”
FIF previously announced that Wahi would not be able to join the delegation’s visit to Canada.
“This is because he has not yet received the necessary administrative permission to enter Canadian territory. Therefore, Elly Wahi will remain in the United States until the team returns home,” the newspaper 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 their first Group E match, while Germany defeated Curaçao 7-1.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed Wednesday’s final game, a 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto, after Ghana’s appeal against Canada’s visa refusal failed.
Partey has been charged in the UK with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
