Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi and His Controversial Federation Change in the 2026 World Cup

An unexpected news shakes DR Congo: goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who represented the African team in the last World Cup, is facing controversy over his federation switch. Discover the details here.

The process that could change everything

Since his debut with the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022, Lionel Mpasi became a key player for the team, despite an eligibility issue that arose during the qualifiers. His participation in the 2026 World Cup was in doubt due to an incomplete federation switch, detected by FIFA.

Nigeria claimed and FIFA decided not to proceed

Following a claim from the Nigerian Federation, FIFA reviewed Mpasi's case and his unapproved federation switch. Despite the potential sporting consequences, FIFA decided not to sanction the goalkeeper or the Congolese federation, thus maintaining DR Congo's place in the World Cup.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El arquero Lionel Mpasi y su polémico cambio de federación en el Mundial 2026