2026 World Cup: Fifa accredits French journalist Christophe Gleizes, detained in Algeria for a year

A symbolic gesture after a year of detention. The International Football Federation (FIFA) has issued accreditation for the 2026 World Cup to French journalist Christophe Gleizes, detained for a year in Algeria. This was announced on Wednesday June 10 by the NGO Reporters Without Borders, which greeted AFP “a strong demonstration of support” of the organization. “I really hope that in a great act of humanity, he will be granted a presidential pardon and that he will even be able to join us during the World Cup”declared Gianni Infantino, patron of Fifa, in a press conference.

This accreditation is awarded to the media responsible for covering the World Cup which begins on Thursday. She “recalls how the place of this sports journalist and football specialist is not in prison but in the stadiums and behind the scenes of this major world competition”declared Thibaut Bruttin, director general of RSF, in a press release.

Christophe Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 in Algeria as part of a report on the Jeunesse sportif de Kabylie (JSK) football club. First placed under judicial control, he was incarcerated in June 2025, after his conviction for advocating terrorism to seven years in prison. “While the most important international football competition is about to open, our son Christophe remains imprisoned”lamented his parents, Sylvie and Francis Godard, quoted in the press release. “This never-ending situation upsets us”they added.

On Wednesday June 3, Christophe Gleizes’ lawyers announced the rejection of a cassation appeal from the prosecution, which “clôture” the legal procedure and opens the way to an examination of the request for clemency. “The future of Christophe Gleizes now falls under the discretionary prerogatives of the president” Algerian Abdelmajid Tebboune, added the lawyers.