Former Arsenal midfielder now at Villarreal, Thomas Partey, will miss Ghana’s opening 2026 World Cup match in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada, according to The Athletic.
The 32-year-old was included in Ghana’s squad for the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and had already linked up with his teammates in Washington D.C. earlier this month before the team moved to their training base in Rhode Island.
However, Partey’s involvement in the opening fixture has now been ruled out due to immigration restrictions linked to his legal situation in the United Kingdom.
In July 2025, he was charged by London’s Metropolitan Police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
He later pleaded not guilty in September of that year. He was also charged with two additional counts of rape in February this year, to which he entered a not guilty plea in April.
Ghana begin their Group L campaign against Panama at Toronto’s BMO Field on Wednesday, June 17.
The midfielder will also miss that fixture but remains eligible to feature in the remaining group matches against England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23 and Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27.
A FIFA statement provided to The Athletic confirmed his inability to travel to Canada for the opener, saying, “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. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
Canadian authorities have existing provisions that may restrict entry for individuals facing criminal charges, even if not convicted.
According to the Canadian government website, “if you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed into Canada.”
FIFA, the global football governing body, reiterated its limited role in visa decisions, while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada declined to comment on the specific case.
IRCC had previously stated ahead of the tournament, “Without any signed consent form, it is not possible for IRCC to provide details regarding any individual situation.
“We can, however, state that the safety and security of Canadians is our priority as we welcome FIFA World Cup participants and visitors from around the world. That is why IRCC applies its rules consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament.“
