Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada, unable to play Ghana’s World Cup opener

Ghana will be without midfielder Thomas Partey for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities denied him entry into the country.

Partey, who currently plays for Spanish side Villarreal, has been ruled out of Ghana’s Group L opener against Panama at Toronto’s BMO Field on June 17 following the refusal of his visa application by the Canadian government.

The 32-year-old midfielder was named in Ghana’s World Cup squad earlier this month and has been training with the Black Stars in the United States ahead of the tournament. However, FIFA confirmed that he will be unable to travel from Ghana’s base in the United States to Canada for the opening fixture.

“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” FIFA said in a statement.

The world football governing body stressed that it does not play any role in immigration decisions made by host countries.

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country,” the statement added.

Partey is currently facing multiple criminal charges in the United Kingdom. In July 2025, London’s Metropolitan Police charged him with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in September 2025.

In February 2026, authorities filed two additional rape charges against him, to which he also pleaded not guilty in April. The allegations involve four women and relate to incidents said to have occurred between 2020 and 2022.

While Partey has not been convicted and is awaiting trial, Canadian immigration laws allow authorities to deny entry to individuals facing serious criminal charges.

The Canadian government states that foreign nationals who have committed or been charged with certain offences may be deemed inadmissible to the country, even without a conviction.

Although he will miss the clash against Panama in Toronto, Partey remains eligible to feature in Ghana’s remaining Group L matches, which will be played in the United States.

The Black Stars face England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27.

Partey arrived in the United States with his Ghanaian teammates on June 4 and has been participating in preparations for the tournament from the team’s training base in Rhode Island.

The midfielder continued his professional career while under investigation and after being charged. He featured prominently for Arsenal during the 2024/25 Premier League season before joining Villarreal.

During the 2025/26 campaign, Partey made 32 appearances for the Spanish club. His current contract with Villarreal is due to expire at the end of June, although the agreement reportedly includes an option for a one-year extension.

The outcome of his ongoing legal case remains pending, with reports indicating that the trial at Southwark Crown Court in London could be delayed until early 2027.

For now, Ghana must begin its World Cup campaign without one of its most experienced players as the Black Stars seek a positive start against Panama in Toronto.