Thomas Partey misses Ghana’s World Cup opener after Canada denies him entry over rape charges
FIFA said Partey remains eligible for Ghana’s two U.S. group matches after Canada refused his visa, leaving the team without a top midfielder.
- On Friday, Canadian authorities refused a visa for Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, barring him from Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto on June 17.
- Canadian officials denied entry based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where Partey faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
- FIFA confirmed the refusal, stating "FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries." Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada emphasized officers assess eligibility "consistently and without exception" per Canadian law.
- Partey remains eligible for Ghana's remaining group-stage matches in the United States, including against England on June 23 in Boston and Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
- The Ghanaian government called the decision "extremely unfair," dispatching an official note of protest to Canada and vowing to explore legal "remedies" under international law.
280 Articles
280 Articles
Canada denies Ghana star entry visa as FIFA says it cannot intervene
Ghana have suffered a major setback ahead of their 2026 World Cup campaign after it was confirmed that midfielder Thomas Partey will miss their opening match against Panama in Toronto following a decision by Canadian authorities to deny him entry to the country. According to Reuters, the ruling will deprive Ghana of one of their most influential players for their first fixture of the tournament. FIFA confirmed that Partey, who is currently with …
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — The government of Ghana called a decision "supremely unfair" the fact that Canada denied a visa to midfielder Thomas Partey for the debut of his team at the World Cup while awaiting trial for...
Ghana plans legal action after Canada denied entry to Partey amid London rape trial
Ghana's government says it's planning legal action over Canada's decision to deny the visa application of a member of its national soccer team awaiting a rape trial in London. Midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which date back to when he played for the English club Arsenal in 2025. In a statement released on social media Saturday, Ghana says the decision by Canadian immigration authorities is "extremely unfair," …
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Ghana slams Canada's decision to deny World Cup visa for Partey, who faces rape charges
Ghana’s government has criticized Canada’s “extremely unfair” decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for his team’s World Cup opener while he awaits trial on rape charges. It has threatened legal action in a bid to overturn the refusal.…
Ghana’s Partey denied entry for World Cup
Ghanaian star soccer player Thomas Partey is set to miss his national team’s opening FIFA World Cup match next week after he was denied entry to Canada. Partey, who also plays for Villarreal CF in Spain’s club soccer league, is currently facing charges in the United Kingdom including seven counts of rape and one count…
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