According to The New York Times, FIFA was made aware of an alleged irregularity involving Mpasi after Nigeria lodged a complaint over the goalkeeper's eligibility.
Mpasi, who has earned 33 caps for DR Congo since making his international debut in 2022, was reportedly not fully naturalised by the country's football authorities despite having represented France at youth level.
The goalkeeper nevertheless featured for DR Congo during their World Cup qualifying campaign and was also involved in the Leopards' historic route to the 2026 World Cup.
DR Congo first secured their place in the intercontinental playoff after defeating Cameroon and Nigeria in the African playoff stage. They subsequently beat Jamaica to qualify for the World Cup, where Mpasi was part of the squad.
The controversy has now raised questions about whether Mpasi should have been eligible to represent DR Congo in the first place.
However, FIFA has maintained that there were no eligibility issues concerning DR Congo's matches against Jamaica or at the 2026 World Cup.
"FIFA can confirm that there were no eligibility issues for DR Congo's matches against Jamaica and at the subsequent FIFA World Cup 2026," a FIFA spokesperson told Flashscore.
The governing body also confirmed that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee had considered a protest submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation but ruled it inadmissible.
The case has attracted further attention because FIFA previously sanctioned national teams for fielding ineligible players. Greece suffered a defeat in 2016, while Bolivia received a similar punishment in 2018.
Mpasi has also represented DR Congo at the 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and featured at the 2026 World Cup, where the Leopards were eliminated by England in the round of 32.
The goalkeeper's eligibility therefore remains the key issue at the heart of the controversy surrounding DR Congo's World Cup campaign.
