Thomas Partey Denied Entry to Canada, Misses Ghana's World Cup Opener Against Panama

Ghana has suffered a significant setback ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign after it was confirmed that midfield captain Thomas Partey has been denied entry into Canada and will miss the team's opening group stage match against Panama. The Black Stars are scheduled to play Panama at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday, June 17, in what was expected to be a crucial Group L opener. However, FIFA confirmed that Partey's Canadian visa application was rejected by the Canadian government, preventing him from travelling from Ghana's team base camp in Boston, USA, to Toronto for the match. In a statement, FIFA said: "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 is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas." Partey, 32, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal last year, was included in Ghana's squad for the tournament. He had arrived in Washington D.C. with his teammates on June 4 before the squad moved to their training base in Rhode Island. The Villarreal midfielder faces pending criminal charges in the United Kingdom. He was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London's Metropolitan Police in July 2025, to which he pleaded not guilty. Two additional rape charges were added in February 2026, with Partey again entering a not-guilty plea in April. He has not been convicted and the trial is not expected to begin until early 2027. Canadian immigration law states that individuals who have been charged with or convicted of a crime may be deemed inadmissible. The Canadian government, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has consistently maintained that it applies its rules without exception regardless of an individual's profile or role. Ghana's Sports Minister Kofi Adams described the visa denial as "unfair, an overreaction, and wrong," adding that it would not break the team's spirit. "Partey's visa denial will not break our spirit," Adams said, expressing disappointment at what he called an unjust decision. Adams also slammed FIFA for what he termed an inadequate response to the matter, calling for greater support for players and national associations facing such immigration challenges at a FIFA-organised tournament. The good news for Ghana is that Partey is eligible to participate in the team's remaining group matches — against England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23, and against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27 — as both games are played in the United States. Ghana's players and fans remain upbeat. Captain Jordan Ayew declared, "We want to make Ghana proud," as the team continues preparations for what is expected to be a competitive group campaign. The Black Stars arrived in Providence, Rhode Island, for the final phase of their World Cup preparations and have been putting in strong training sessions. With or without Partey, Ghana will be counting on players like Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, and Antoine Semenyo to drive their World Cup ambitions. The Black Stars last appeared at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and will be hungry to make a strong impression on the global stage.