Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Panama after Canadian authorities denied him entry over ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
According to court documents, Canadian officials rejected Partey’s visa application after determining that he failed to disclose he had previously been arrested and was facing multiple criminal charges in the UK.
The 33-year-old former Arsenal midfielder has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. His trial is scheduled to begin next year.
The Ghanaian government appealed the decision, seeking temporary permission for Partey to enter Canada solely to participate in the World Cup fixture in Toronto, but a federal court dismissed the request, ruling there was no basis to overturn the visa refusal.
Canada’s immigration authorities said hosting a major sporting event does not exempt visitors from the country’s immigration laws, adding that every application is assessed individually under existing legal requirements.
Despite the legal case, Partey was recently allowed into the United States after being issued a visa, with US authorities stating that admissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and noting that he has not been convicted of any crime.
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz had previously defended his decision to include Partey in the squad, saying he would work with the players available while awaiting the outcome of the immigration process.
Partey’s absence is a significant setback for Ghana ahead of its World Cup opener against Panama, with further group-stage matches against England and Croatia to follow.
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