The controversy centres on Mpasi, who was reported to have not completed the required process to switch his international allegiance from France to DR Congo after representing France at youth level.
FIFA, however, has rejected the suggestion that there was an eligibility problem affecting DR Congo’s matches against Jamaica or at the World Cup.
Nigeria’s complaint at the centre of the controversy
The issue dates back to Nigeria’s defeat by DR Congo in the African World Cup play-off final in November 2025.
The Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw after extra time before DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties in Rabat, Morocco, with Mpasi playing the full 120 minutes.
Nigeria subsequently lodged a complaint with FIFA over the eligibility of several DR Congo players.
According to reports based on internal FIFA documents reviewed by The New York Times and Le Monde, FIFA's legal officials later determined that Mpasi had not completed the necessary documentation to change his international affiliation from France to DR Congo.
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Mpasi had represented France at youth level
Mpasi was born in France and represented the country at Under-17 level, meaning he required the appropriate FIFA process to change his international sporting nationality before representing DR Congo in official senior competition.
Reports say DR Congo began the process of changing his international affiliation in 2021, but the required procedure was never completed.
Despite that, Mpasi subsequently became an established member of the Congolese national team and played a significant role during their successful World Cup qualification campaign.
FIFA reportedly considered several options
The reported internal documents have intensified the controversy because FIFA officials allegedly considered a number of possible responses after the eligibility issue came to light.
Among the options reportedly discussed were awarding Nigeria the relevant match, replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica, imposing a financial sanction or taking no sporting action because of procedural issues surrounding Nigeria's complaint.
The case was ultimately dismissed on what FIFA described as grounds relating to the admissibility of Nigeria's protest.
That decision allowed DR Congo to proceed to the intercontinental play-off, where they defeated Jamaica to secure their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
FIFA defends its decision
FIFA has rejected suggestions that its judicial processes were compromised.
A FIFA spokesperson told Flashscore that there were no eligibility issues concerning DR Congo's matches against Jamaica or at the subsequent 2026 World Cup.
The governing body also said its judicial bodies operate independently and denied any suggestion that FIFA president Gianni Infantino interfered in the process.
The distinction is significant: FIFA's current public position concerns the Jamaica play-off and World Cup, while the reports based on internal documents focus on Mpasi's appearances during earlier qualifying matches.
Mpasi went on to play at the World Cup
DR Congo ultimately reached the 2026 World Cup in North America, with Mpasi remaining part of the squad.
The goalkeeper featured in all four of the Leopards' matches at the tournament. DR Congo drew 1-1 with Portugal, lost 1-0 to Colombia, defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 and then lost 2-1 to England in the round of 32.
Mpasi was particularly prominent against England, producing an impressive performance before Harry Kane's late goals ended DR Congo's historic run.
Nigeria's World Cup heartbreak revisited
The revelations have inevitably reopened the debate surrounding Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles had been eliminated by DR Congo in the African play-off final, meaning the subsequent decision to allow the Leopards to continue ultimately had enormous consequences for Nigerian football.
Reports also note that FIFA has previously imposed sporting sanctions in cases involving ineligible players, including the well-known Bolivia case during 2018 World Cup qualifying, further fuelling questions about how the DR Congo situation was handled.
For now, however, DR Congo remain the officially qualified team and FIFA maintains that there was no eligibility issue affecting their Jamaica play-off or World Cup participation.
The controversy is therefore less about an existing change to the World Cup results and more about whether FIFA's handling of the original eligibility complaint was consistent with its own regulations and previous precedents.