Ghana will be without midfielder Thomas Partey for its opening Group L match against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities denied him entry over alleged misrepresentation in his immigration application, according to a federal court document released Tuesday.
The 33-year-old former Arsenal player was deemed inadmissible after officials determined he provided inaccurate information regarding his legal history when applying for entry into Canada. The ruling means Partey will miss Ghana’s first match in the United States, Canada and Mexico-hosted tournament on Thursday at 6 a.m. WIB.
In a federal court filing in Ottawa, Partey was found to have stated he had never been arrested or charged with any criminal offense. However, he is currently facing ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
The BBC reported that a Canadian court rejected a request from the Ghana Football Association seeking a special exemption to allow Partey temporary entry for World Cup participation. The court said it found no sufficient grounds to overturn the visa refusal.
The judge also highlighted that Partey failed to disclose he is facing multiple sexual offense charges in England.
“The applicant failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges related to sexual offenses in the United Kingdom,” the court ruling stated.
Partey has previously denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women. The alleged incidents are said to have taken place between 2020 and 2022, with a trial scheduled for next year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said World Cup hosting duties do not alter the country’s immigration laws.
“Canada remains consistent that hosting major events does not change immigration law,” the agency told the BBC. “Each person seeking entry is assessed individually based on the facts available and applicable law.”
Authorities had earlier raised concerns about the accuracy of information provided by Partey during his application process.
Under Canadian immigration rules, an individual does not need to be convicted of a crime to be deemed inadmissible. A reasonable basis to believe an offense may have occurred can be sufficient grounds for refusal.
Partey, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, has more than 50 international caps for Ghana since making his debut in 2016 and remains one of the team’s most experienced players.
Despite the legal uncertainty surrounding him, Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz had initially included Partey in his World Cup squad. Earlier this month, Queiroz said he had no issues with the selection and would await developments in the case.
“My job is to play the cards I have in front of me,” Queiroz said when asked again on Tuesday. “We wait for the decision. When it comes, we are ready.”
After facing Panama, Ghana is scheduled to meet England in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia in Philadelphia four days later.
While Ghana remains in contention to advance from the group stage, Partey’s absence from matches held in Canada is expected to continue unless his immigration status changes.
