Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada for World Cup opener
FIFA confirms host government determined refusal; Partey expected to rejoin team for US-based matches
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada by the Canadian government, resulting in his absence from the team’s opening 2026 World Cup match against Panama on 17 June. The visa refusal prevents Partey from travelling from Ghana’s training base in Boston to the match venue in Toronto, effectively removing the 32-year-old from the squad for the opening fixture.
FIFA confirmed the visa refusal, stating that host governments determine visa adjudication and that the governing body is not involved in immigration processes. In a statement first published by The Athletic, FIFA clarified that as with previous events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country. The specific administrative rationale for the Canadian government's refusal has not been publicly disclosed, though general rules regarding criminal history typically inform such decisions.
Partey is currently awaiting trial in London on seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, having pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial, originally scheduled for November at Southwark Crown Court, has been postponed to start on 8 June 2027. Partey appeared previously in the dock to plead not guilty and is on bail with a condition that he does not contact alleged victims. The next hearing in his case is set for 2 October.
Despite the visa denial, Partey is expected to rejoin the Ghana squad for subsequent matches in the United States. He will be available to play on 23 June when Ghana faces England in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ghana concludes its group play on 27 June against Croatia in Philadelphia. Partey, who played for Arsenal from 2020 to 2025 and is currently at Villarreal, has 57 caps for Ghana and featured in their last warm-up match against Wales on 2 June.
Following the visa denial, Partey was travelling back to Rhode Island on Friday. The Ghana Football Association and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have been contacted for comment regarding the decision. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
