Thomas Partey has been ruled out of Ghana’s World Cup opener after Canada denied him a visa due to an ongoing criminal case

Thomas Partey will be unavailable for Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama due to Canada denying him a visa in light of ongoing criminal proceedings.

Thomas Partey will be absent from Ghana’s first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Panama, as the Canadian government has rejected his visa application, according to FIFA’s confirmation.

The 32-year-old midfielder, currently with Villarreal and having earned 57 caps for Ghana, will not be able to travel from the Black Stars’ team base in the United States to Toronto for Wednesday’s Group Stage opener.

In a statement initially reported by The Athletic, FIFA indicated that the governing body played no part in the visa adjudication process.

“FIFA has announced that player Thomas Partey will not be able to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their opening match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, due to the refusal of his visa application by the Canadian government,” the statement indicated.

FIFA does not participate in the immigration procedures of host nations, including the decision-making regarding visas. As with prior FIFA events, the host government ultimately decides who is granted a visa and allowed entry into the country.

The visa refusal occurs as Partey confronts significant legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. The former Arsenal midfielder faces charges from London’s Metropolitan Police, including seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

Last month, it was confirmed that Partey’s trial, originally set to commence in November at Southwark Crown Court, has been postponed and is now anticipated to begin on June 8, 2027.

In response to questions regarding the visa decision, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released a statement on behalf of Immigration Minister Lena Diab, emphasizing that Canada’s immigration laws continue to be consistent, regardless of the nation’s status as a World Cup host.

“Canada is honored to serve as a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is dedicated to ensuring a successful event while prioritizing the safety and security of its citizens,” the statement read.

Canada has consistently maintained that hosting major events does not alter its immigration laws.

“Each individual applying to come to Canada is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the relevant facts and applicable laws.”

Partey participated in Ghana’s last World Cup warm-up match against Wales on June 2 and was anticipated to play a significant role in the team’s campaign.

As Ghana gets ready to journey from its base in Rhode Island to Canada for the tournament opener, Partey will stay in the United States after returning to Rhode Island on Friday due to the visa refusal.

The midfielder is anticipated to be ready for Ghana’s second Group Stage match against England on June 23 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as that game will take place on U.S. soil. Ghana will wrap up its group stage matches against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

Partey has previously appeared in court to enter not-guilty pleas to all charges and remains on bail as legal proceedings continue. One of the conditions of his bail prohibits him from contacting the individuals who reported the alleged offenses.

The upcoming hearing in the case is set for October 2.

The Ghana Football Association had yet to make a public statement regarding the development at the time this report was filed.