Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey denied entry into Canada for facing rape charges in England. File
| Photo Credit: AP
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the country’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Panama next week, after being denied entry into Canada.
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The Canadian government denied a visa application for Partey, 32, who is awaiting trial in England on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault. The former Arsenal star has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Ghana’s opening match in Group L is on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) against Panama in Toronto.
A statement from FIFA on Friday (June 12, 2026) confirmed that Partey will not be allowed to cross the Canadian border with his team, whose World Cup base camp is in Rhode Island.
“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, U.S.A., to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” read the statement obtained by The Athletic.
“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.”
Partey, who currently plays for Spain’s Villarreal, has scored 16 goals in 58 career caps for Ghana, including three goals during the 2026 World Cup qualifying process.
Partey presumably will rejoin Ghana for group-stage matches in the U.S. against England on June 23, 2026, in Massachusetts, and against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
Published – June 13, 2026 10:34 am IST
