CANADA DENIES THOMAS PARTEY ENTRY FOR GHANA’S WORLD CUP OPENER
Midfielder to miss opening Group L match after Canadian authorities reject his entry as legal proceedings continue in the United Kingdom.
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities denied him entry ahead of the team’s Group L fixture against Panama.
The visa decision means Partey will miss Ghana’s opening World Cup match while legal proceedings in the United Kingdom remain ongoing. Partey is charged with seven counts of rape and one count of assault, allegations he has denied. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the case remains before the UK courts. “The visa decision means Partey will miss Ghana’s opening World Cup match while legal proceedings in the United Kingdom remain ongoing.”
Partey’s legal team sought to overturn the decision through an emergency appeal, but a Canadian judge dismissed the application, confirming that the 33-year-old would be unable to travel to Toronto for Ghana’s tournament opener.
The decision has drawn criticism from Ghanaian officials, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which argued that Partey has not been convicted of any offence and questioned the proportionality of Canada’s decision. Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has called Canada’s decision “high-handed and extremely unfair”, calling Partey “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team”.
Canadian authorities have defended the decision, maintaining that immigration assessments are made independently under the country’s laws and are not influenced by the significance of sporting events or the profile of individual athletes.
While Partey is unavailable for Ghana’s first match, he is expected to be eligible for the team’s remaining World Cup fixtures in the United States, subject to U.S. immigration requirements. His absence leaves Ghana without one of its most experienced midfielders for the Group L opener against Panama.
The visa decision has also renewed international attention on Partey’s ongoing legal case, although no court has found him guilty of any offence. The proceedings in the United Kingdom are continuing, and he remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
