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Internal FIFA documents reportedly show that legal officials identified Lionel Mpasi’s unresolved international switch, while Nigeria’s eligibility complaint was rejected on procedural grounds.
FIFA’s own legal officials reportedly determined that Democratic Republic of Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had not completed the required process to switch his international allegiance from France, raising fresh questions over how the country remained in the 2026 World Cup qualifying race.
An investigation by Le Monde and The New York Times, based on internal FIFA documents, found that Mpasi’s change of association had not been formally completed despite the goalkeeper representing DR Congo in several World Cup qualifying matches.
Mpasi was born in Meaux, France, and represented France at youth level, including at the 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. FIFA itself later profiled him as a former France youth international who had switched to representing DR Congo.
According to Le Monde, DR Congo’s football federation began the administrative process to change Mpasi’s international association in 2021. FIFA lawyers later concluded that the process had never been completed.
Nigeria Had Already Challenged DR Congo
The issue became particularly significant because Mpasi played in DR Congo’s 2025 African play-off victory over Nigeria.
Nigeria lost the November 16, 2025 final in Rabat after the match ended 1-1 following extra time, with DR Congo winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
The Nigeria Football Federation subsequently submitted a complaint to FIFA challenging the eligibility of several DR Congo players.
The NFF’s original complaint focused on alleged irregularities involving the nationality and passports of players representing the Leopards. The federation later appealed after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee rejected its petition.
However, the latest investigation indicates that FIFA’s legal officials separately identified a problem with Mpasi’s international status.
According to documents reviewed by Le Monde, FIFA lawyers examined the case in December 2025 and later conducted further checks in March 2026.
The lawyers reportedly concluded that Mpasi had not received the necessary approval to change his international association from France to DR Congo.
The legal assessment was significant because Mpasi had already appeared in multiple World Cup qualifying matches.
The documents reportedly identified several possible courses of action, including disciplinary proceedings against Mpasi and the Congolese federation.
The lawyers also considered whether DR Congo could be sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player.
Le Monde reported that FIFA’s legal officials considered the possibility of declaring relevant matches forfeited or applying other sporting sanctions.
Why Nigeria’s Complaint Matters
The revelation creates a major question about the timing and handling of Nigeria’s complaint.
FIFA ultimately rejected the NFF’s petition on procedural grounds.
In March, the NFF confirmed that it had received the Disciplinary Committee’s decision and had begun an appeal.
FIFA later confirmed to Le Monde that its disciplinary committee had examined the NFF complaint but declared it inadmissible. The organisation said the decision had been communicated to the NFF and became final after no valid appeal was lodged within the applicable process.
The latest reporting therefore does not establish that FIFA formally declared DR Congo’s entire qualifying campaign invalid.
Rather, it shows that FIFA legal officials reportedly identified an eligibility problem involving Mpasi while the disciplinary process ultimately produced no sporting sanction against DR Congo.
Mpasi Then Helped DR Congo Reach The World Cup
Despite the unresolved eligibility issue, Mpasi remained part of DR Congo’s campaign.
FIFA’s own records show that Mpasi was included in the country’s World Cup squad.
He subsequently featured as DR Congo defeated Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament, securing the country’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. FIFA had identified Mpasi as DR Congo’s goalkeeper ahead of that decisive play-off.
He then played at the 2026 World Cup, including DR Congo’s 1-1 draw with Portugal and its 2-1 defeat by England in the round of 32.
The Bigger Question For FIFA
The controversy is now larger than Mpasi’s individual eligibility.
The central issue is whether FIFA’s disciplinary system applied its eligibility rules consistently after its own legal officials identified a potential violation.
Le Monde reported that FIFA’s legal officials pointed to previous cases in which teams were punished for fielding ineligible players.
FIFA, however, has rejected suggestions that its president, Gianni Infantino, intervened in the case. The organisation maintains that its judicial bodies are autonomous and make decisions according to the applicable regulations and facts submitted to them.
That leaves several questions unresolved: why the eligibility issue was not disclosed earlier, why the legal assessment did not result in disciplinary action, and whether the NFF’s procedural failure prevented the substance of its complaint from being fully considered.
For Nigeria, the revelation could renew scrutiny of the federation’s unsuccessful challenge and its decision to appeal FIFA’s ruling.
For FIFA, the case raises broader questions about transparency, consistency and the handling of player-eligibility disputes in major international competitions.
