FIFA knew in March that DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi was ineligible, reports say

FIFA reportedly knew as early as March that DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was allegedly ineligible, yet no action was taken. The shot-stopper went on to represent his country at the World Cup in North America and started the last-32 defeat against England, a 2-1 loss. The revelations place Gianni Infantino under renewed scrutiny over how FIFA handles disciplinary matters at the tournament.

• FIFA lawyers drew up a list of possible sanctions in March, including banning Mpasi and disqualifying DR Congo from the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica.
• No action was taken and the goalkeeper played at the finals.
• The controversy follows the Folarin Balogun case, in which Donald Trump admitted calling Infantino over a suspension.
• CONCACAF has called for eligibility matters to be thoroughly reviewed by FIFA's disciplinary bodies.
• The Norwegian federation has filed complaints covering the Balogun case, a private investment plan and the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Trump.

What FIFA lawyers reportedly knew about Lionel Mpasi

Reports in The New York Times and Le Monde say FIFA's legal team prepared a document in March listing possible punishments for Mpasi and DR Congo. The options included suspending the goalkeeper and disqualifying the African side from the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica, which was scheduled for later that month. Neither measure was implemented.

The inaction allowed Mpasi to make the squad for the finals in North America. He then started against England in the last 32, where the Three Lions won 2-1, turning an issue FIFA had reportedly known about for months into a full-blown eligibility scandal.

Why the Mpasi case matters for the 2026 World Cup

Player eligibility is one of the most sensitive areas of international football regulations. A footballer who does not meet nationality or federation-switch requirements can drag an entire national team into disqualification. In this instance, DR Congo won the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica and any retrospective review would raise serious questions about the integrity of that tie.

The stakes are higher in the expanded 2026 World Cup, where play-off places carry more weight. If one of those spots was decided with an allegedly ineligible player on the pitch, the end of the qualifying process would come under review and affected federations would have a strong case to appeal.

Trump's phone call to Infantino over Folarin Balogun

The Mpasi case is not the first disciplinary storm to hit FIFA in this cycle. United States striker Folarin Balogun was sent off and handed a one-match ban, but the disciplinary committee suspended the sanction. The decision allowed him to feature in the last-16 match against Belgium.

Donald Trump later admitted he had personally called Infantino to ask for a review of the suspension, an intervention that raised concerns about political interference within football's governing body. FIFA denied any involvement by Infantino and insisted its disciplinary committee operates independently, though the episode left an uncomfortable precedent.

CONCACAF, CAF and Norway respond to the FIFA reports

CONCACAF, the confederation representing Jamaica, issued a firm statement on the matter. The body said it takes player eligibility issues very seriously and expects regulations and procedures to be applied consistently and fairly in all competitions. It also urged that any concerns affecting the integrity of a competition or the interests of its member associations be thoroughly reviewed by FIFA's governance and disciplinary bodies.

The Confederation of African Football has also been asked about the case. Meanwhile, the Norwegian federation has gone further by filing complaints with FIFA's ethics committee and its governance, audit and compliance committee. Norway's complaints cover three issues: the Balogun case, the plan for private investment in a commercial vehicle to run FIFA's tournaments and the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump last year.

Infantino faces growing pressure ahead of the new cycle

Gianni Infantino now has several open fronts. The proposal to create a privately funded commercial vehicle to run the men's and women's World Cups had already sparked unease among federations and fans. Add to that the handling of the Balogun suspension, the Norwegian complaints and now the alleged inaction over Mpasi's eligibility, and the FIFA president faces one of the most uncomfortable stretches of his tenure.

FIFA had not responded to requests for comment on the Mpasi reports at the time of publication. The mix of silence in some cases and denials in others paints a picture of growing wear for Infantino, who heads into the final stretch of the World Cup cycle with his leadership under intense media and federation scrutiny.

Frequently asked questions about the Mpasi case and FIFA