REVEALED: FIFA allowed ineligible DR Congo goalkeeper to play at 2026 World Cup

FIFA officials determined that a goalkeeper representing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) did not have the required paperwork to play during the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, but no action was taken, according to documents reviewed by The Athletic.

The revelation has raised fresh questions about FIFA’s governance and its handling of player eligibility cases.

According to internal documents, correspondence and a senior FIFA official directly involved in the case, the governing body’s legal officials had privately concluded that DR Congo had fielded an ineligible player.

Under normal circumstances, a breach of eligibility rules can result in a team forfeiting a match in which an ineligible player appeared.

However, FIFA allowed the goalkeeper to continue playing, despite the concerns raised internally.

DR Congo subsequently defeated Jamaica in the qualification play-off, securing a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America for the first time in 52 years.

The case followed a complaint from Nigeria over the eligibility of the player. Nigeria had been beaten by DR Congo in the preceding stage, with the winner advancing to the decisive match against Jamaica.

The handling of the case comes as FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces increased scrutiny over the organisation’s governance during the 2026 World Cup.

The tournament has been accompanied by questions over fair play and political interference, including FIFA’s decision to lift the suspension of a United States player following a phone call between Infantino and US President Donald Trump.

It also emerged that Infantino had held secret discussions over a proposal to sell a stake in future World Cup tournaments to a private investment fund linked to the brother of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The proposal prompted European football’s governing body to consider legal action and intensified questions about Infantino’s leadership.

The latest revelation concerning DR Congo is likely to add to the pressure on FIFA to explain how its eligibility rules are applied and why no disciplinary action was taken after its own officials reportedly concluded that the player did not have the necessary documentation.

Meanwhile, DR Congo exited the tournament after a narrow 2-1 defeat to England in the Round of 32.