Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities denied the midfielder’s visa application, preventing him from traveling to Toronto for the Group L clash against Panama.
The 32-year-old Villarreal midfielder had been training with Ghana in the United States but was unable to travel from the team’s camp in Boston to Canada, where Ghana will begin its World Cup campaign at BMO Field on June 17.
FIFA confirmed that the former Arsenal midfielder was refused entry by the Canadian government and, as a result, will not be available for Ghana’s tournament opener.
“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey was unable to travel from Ghana’s training camp in Boston, United States, to Canada for the opening match against Panama on June 17 because his visa application was denied by the Government of Canada,” FIFA said in a statement.
The world governing body also emphasized that immigration decisions remain the exclusive responsibility of host governments.
“As with previous FIFA tournaments, the host country’s government has full authority to determine who is granted a visa and permitted entry into its territory,” the statement added.
Partey’s visa denial comes while he continues to face ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
In July 2025, London’s Metropolitan Police charged the Ghana international with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Partey pleaded not guilty to all charges in September of that year.
In February 2026, prosecutors filed two additional rape charges against the midfielder. He again entered not guilty pleas during a court appearance in April.
The cases are scheduled to be heard at Southwark Crown Court in London. Although the trial was initially expected to begin in November, British media have reported that proceedings could be postponed until early 2027.
Canada’s official immigration guidelines state that individuals who have committed or been convicted of certain criminal offenses may be found inadmissible to the country. However, Partey has not been convicted and remains presumed innocent while the legal process continues.
Earlier, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said every visa application is assessed individually under Canadian law, regardless of an applicant’s nationality or public profile.
“The safety and security of Canadians is our priority as we welcome FIFA World Cup participants and visitors from around the world,” the department said.
Partey’s absence is a significant setback for Ghana, with the experienced midfielder expected to play a key role in the Black Stars’ bid to advance from Group L. His unavailability forces Ghana’s coaching staff to adjust their midfield plans ahead of one of the team’s most important matches of the tournament.
