Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ opening FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Panama on June 17 in Toronto after Canadian authorities refused his visa application, with FIFA confirming the decision on June 12. Partey, who is with the Ghana squad at their team base camp in Boston, is unable to travel across the border for the Group L fixture at BMO Field because his application “has been refused by the Canadian government,” FIFA said in a statement to Reuters and other outlets. The governing body stressed that it “is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas” and that, as with previous tournaments, the host government ultimately determines who is admitted.
The visa refusal comes while Partey awaits trial in Britain on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault dating from his time at Arsenal between 2020 and 2022. He was initially charged in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, and two further counts of rape were added in February 2026; he has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is on bail, with a trial set for 2027. Canadian immigration policy states that individuals who have “committed or been convicted of a crime may not be allowed” into the country, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said every applicant is assessed individually based on available facts and Canadian law, adding that hosting major events does not change immigration laws.
Despite missing the Panama game, the 32-year-old remains eligible for Ghana’s remaining Group L matches, which are scheduled in the United States: against England on June 23 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia. Partey, now playing for Villarreal in Spain after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired in 2025, traveled back to the squad’s Rhode Island base following the visa denial and will train with his teammates in the U.S.
The incident makes Partey one of the highest-profile players affected by immigration issues at the expanded 48-team World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA noted that Canada’s decision mirrors the principle that host nations retain control over entry, and the case has sparked broader discussion about how criminal proceedings intersect with international sporting participation. For Ghana, the absence is a significant blow as coach Otto Addo prepares for a challenging group, but the Black Stars can still call on their vice-captain for the critical fixtures in Boston and Philadelphia if no further travel restrictions arise.
