Omanghana
Teenage Ajax midfielder Jorthy Mokio has been ruled ineligible to represent Democratic Republic of the Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to FIFA’s strict international eligibility regulations.
The 18-year-old rising star was recently granted official approval by FIFA to switch his international allegiance from Belgium to DR Congo. However, the timing of the move has unintentionally left him unable to play for either nation during the upcoming tournament cycle.
The issue centers around FIFA’s eligibility “cool-down” rules governing dual-national players who have already appeared in senior competitive matches for another country.
Under FIFA regulations, any player who makes a senior competitive appearance for one national team must wait three full years from the date of that appearance before becoming eligible to represent a new country internationally.
Mokio’s lone senior appearance for Belgium came in March 2025, when he entered as a late substitute during a UEFA Nations League match against Ukraine. Although it was only a brief appearance, the competitive nature of the fixture officially tied him to Belgium under FIFA rules.
As a result, the midfielder cannot legally make his debut for DR Congo until March 2028, despite FIFA approving his nationality switch.
The timing has created a major setback for both the player and the Congolese national team. DR Congo’s coaching staff had reportedly hoped to include Mokio in their final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but FIFA’s waiting period forced them to leave him out.
At the same time, Mokio is also unable to return to Belgium’s squad because his international switch has already been formally processed and approved.
The situation leaves the highly rated midfielder sidelined from international football during a critical stage of his development. Beyond missing the 2026 World Cup, the three-year restriction also prevents him from participating in the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mokio is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents emerging from Ajax’s renowned youth development system, and his decision to represent DR Congo had generated excitement among supporters hoping he could become a key figure in the country’s future national team plans.
Instead, FIFA’s administrative rules have temporarily placed his international career on hold until 2028.
Source: Omanghana
