Ivory Coast striker Wahi denied entry to Canada amid match-fixing investigation

Elye Wahi will play no part in Ivory Coast’s 2026 World Cup group-stage match against Germany in Toronto after the 23-year-old striker was denied entry into Canada, with the refusal coming a day after news broke of his arrest over alleged match-fixing offences.

The Nice forward is the subject of an active investigation into whether he deliberately earned a yellow card during Ligue 1’s final day fixture between Nice and Metz on 17 May. He was reportedly arrested less than two weeks ago in connection with the probe.

The Ivorian Football Federation moved to publicly back their player, stating they had full confidence in Wahi. The federation said he would not be travelling with the squad because the necessary authorisations for his entry to Canada had not been obtained — a formulation that reflects the legal complications created by the ongoing investigation rather than any disciplinary action by the federation itself.

Elsewhere in the tournament, England manager Thomas Tuchel criticised photographers for disrupting what he described as an emotional moment during his first England national anthem, ahead of his side’s 4-2 victory over Croatia.

Questions are also mounting over Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in Portugal’s setup after a dismal individual display in their match against DR Congo. Whether the 39-year-old’s continued prominence is hampering Portugal’s prospects has become a growing topic of debate among pundits and supporters.

On the pitch, Sweden’s strong start — highlighted by a 5-1 demolition of Tunisia — has sparked a wave of national enthusiasm back home, with Statistics Sweden reporting that short-term workplace absences rise by around eight percentage points during major football championships compared to equivalent weeks without tournament football.

Australia, meanwhile, are preparing to face the United States on Friday, with Socceroos pair Kai Trewin and Aiden O’Neill both wishing their New York City FC club-mate and US goalkeeper Matt Freese well — before making clear their intention to beat him. “I just wished him the best,” Trewin said of Freese. “Obviously I hope we get a positive result against them.”