FIFA allegedly covered up fraud to keep DR Congo in 2026 World Cup

FIFA allegedly deliberately circumvented its own regulations to keep the Democratic Republic of Congo in contention for the 2026 World Cup, according to joint investigations published Tuesday by Le Monde and the New York Times.

At the heart of the matter: the fielding of goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi in qualifying matches, when the player was administratively ineligible due to nationality issues and passport fraud. According to the regulations in force, this breach should have resulted in an automatic forfeit and immediate elimination of the Congolese national team, nicknamed the Leopards.

The two newspapers claim, however, with documents and testimony to support them, that senior officials of the organization chose to suppress the disciplinary procedure. President Gianni Infantino is specifically named among those who allegedly intervened behind the scenes to protect DR Congo’s qualification.

Behind this special treatment, investigators identify geopolitical and financial motivations: FIFA would be seeking to secure the favors of the Congolese government and consolidate its support on the African continent, a reservoir of votes decisive for the governance of the institution.

These revelations deal another blow to the credibility of the organization, already weakened by previous corruption scandals. They describe a system where diplomatic and strategic interests take precedence over the sporting integrity of competitions. FIFA has so far not provided a convincing response to the accusations made by the two newspapers.