Canadian authorities refused the midfielder entry after ruling that he failed to disclose a previous arrest on his visa application.
Toronto, Canada (Running Africa) – Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities denied him entry into the country, dealing a significant blow to Ghana’s tournament preparations.
The 33-year-old Villarreal midfielder had been expected to feature in Ghana’s Group Stage clash against Panama in Toronto. However, immigration officials reportedly deemed him inadmissible after determining that he failed to disclose a previous arrest in the United Kingdom during the visa application process.
According to reports, Canadian authorities concluded that the omission breached immigration requirements that obligate applicants to provide complete and accurate information regarding their legal history.
Partey is currently facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. The Ghana international has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to stand trial next year.
Ghanaian officials reportedly sought emergency authorization to allow the midfielder to enter Canada for the World Cup fixture, but a federal court in Ottawa rejected the appeal, upholding the original immigration decision.
While Partey will be unavailable for Ghana’s opening match in Canada, he remains eligible to travel to the United States, where the Black Stars will play their remaining Group Stage fixtures.
Ghana are scheduled to face England in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27 as they pursue a place in the knockout rounds of the expanded FIFA World Cup.
The development leaves Ghana without one of its most experienced players for a crucial opening fixture, adding another challenge to the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign.
