Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey has been refused entry into Canada ahead of Ghana’s opening FIFA World Cup Group L fixture against Panama.
The development was confirmed by FIFA, which stated that the player was unable to travel from Ghana’s team base in Boston, United States, to Toronto with the rest of the squad after his visa application was rejected by Canadian authorities.
Partey, who currently plays club football for Villarreal, was expected to be part of Ghana’s squad for the tournament but will now miss the opening match as a result of the travel restriction.
The midfielder is currently facing multiple criminal charges in the United Kingdom, including allegations of rape and sexual assault involving four women relating to incidents said to have occurred between 2020 and 2022. He has denied all charges.
Court records indicate that Partey is on bail pending trial, with conditions restricting contact with alleged victims. His trial is scheduled to begin in June 2027.
FIFA said it does not participate in visa or immigration decisions for host countries, stressing that entry approvals remain solely under the authority of the respective governments.
In a statement, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that Partey had been admitted into the United States earlier in June after inspection, noting that admissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
The agency, however, clarified that Canada is responsible for its own immigration determinations regarding entry into its territory.
As it stands, Partey remains available for Ghana’s second group match against England, scheduled to take place in Boston on June 23, while the team’s final group game will be played in Philadelphia on June 27 against Croatia.
The situation has added an unexpected off-field complication to Ghana’s World Cup campaign as the tournament progresses.
