2026 World Cup: Thomas Partey will miss Ghana after visa appeal rejected

Thomas Partey will not play in Ghana's World Cup opener against Panama after his appeal over his visa denial was rejected. The 33-year-old midfielder was barred from entering Canada ahead of Wednesday's match in Toronto due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. The Ghanaian government requested permission for him to enter the country temporarily to participate in the game, but that appeal was turned down by a federal court in Ottawa. The judgment said there was "no serious issue in the underlying refusal" of the visa and that "the applicant has failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK".

Former Arsenal player Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault, relating to allegations from four different women between 2020 and 2022, and is scheduled to face trial next year. The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told the BBC: "Canada has been consistent in stating that holding major events does not alter the country's immigration laws. Each person seeking entry to Canada is assessed individually based on available facts and applicable legislation."


IRCC officials wrote to Partey expressing concerns about whether his application met the "answer truthfully" requirement and mentioned legislation covering misrepresentation, which could affect his visa. The court also noted that under immigration rules, "having reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed is sufficient" and that a conviction is not necessary "to deem the applicant inadmissible."

In a statement, U.S. Border Protection (CBP) said: "The U.S. is aware of Mr. Partey's pending court case. However, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and has been admitted to the United States upon issuance of a visa. Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, utilizing available law enforcement, national security and immigration information at the time of inspection. CBP refers to Canada for questions regarding his denial of entry."

Partey, who currently plays for Villarreal, in Spain, has already played more than 50 times for the Ghana national team, having debuted in June 2016. Before the tournament, coach Carlos Queiroz stated that he had no problem calling up Partey. Asked about the issue again on Tuesday, he said: "My job is to play with the cards I have on the table. We are waiting for a decision. When the decision [comes], we will be ready." Ghana will face England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. They could return to Canada at the '32 stage if they finish as Group L runners-up.

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