Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi arrested on betting charges weeks before FIFA World Cup 2026

Elye Wahi started in Ivory Coast’s win over Ecuador.

As the group stage fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup continue to entertain fans across the globe with unpredictable storylines, a shocking off-field scandal has just been brought to light, completely shifting the mood.

After the Ivory Coast secured a 1-0 victory over Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium, news broke out across multiple reliable sources that the nation’s starting striker, Elye Wahi, is at the centre of an active French police investigation.

The revelation has resulted in massive backlash from the footballing community. More shockingly, it was revealed that the 23-year-old striker was secretly taken into custody by French authorities on May 29, less than two weeks before the tournament kicked off, before being permitted to travel to North America for World Cup preparations.

Why was he arrested?

Elye Wahi, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice while on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, was arrested shortly after scoring a brace in a crucial 4-1 win against Saint-Étienne on May 29, ensuring the French side’s survival in the top flight.

He was arrested on the same day, following a massive investigation focused on a highly suspicious betting pattern that was flagged during a match between Nice and Metz on May 17. The case involves alleged spot-fixing, wherein a specific event within a match is manipulated rather than the final score.

Doubts arose after international betting monitors alerted the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) after an unusually high volume of wagers was placed on Wahi to receive a yellow card in the game. Wahi was then booked in the 35th minute of the game following a late challenge, being penalised with a yellow card, ultimately leading the player to miss a critical relegation play-off fixture due to suspension.

Marseille public prosecutors have confirmed that the ongoing investigation concerns serious allegations, including organised fraud, sports corruption, and money laundering. Despite the ongoing proceedings, no official charges have been filed against the striker, being released from custody after his police interview. Given the presumption of innocence, French judicial authorities granted him legal clearance to board the team flight to the United States base camp.

The Ivory Coast staff have also had complete confidence in the player. Manager Emerse Faé placed Wahi directly into the starting lineup for their World Cup opener against Ecuador, where he played 56 minutes, striking the crossbar before being substituted. FIFA has yet to issue a ruling on the case, and Wahi currently remains fully eligible to play while the French judicial system carries out its investigations.

They are placed in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, competing alongside Ecuador, Germany and Curaçao, considered a highly competitive path for the African side.

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