Ghana could be without midfielder Thomas Partey for its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the player was reportedly denied a visa to enter Canada.
According to a report by The Athletic, FIFA has confirmed that Partey will not be permitted to travel from the Black Stars’ training base in the United States to Toronto, where Ghana is scheduled to face Panama on June 17 in their first Group L fixture.
In a statement, FIFA clarified that visa and immigration decisions fall solely under the authority of host governments and are beyond the organisation’s control.
“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,” the statement said.
The world football governing body further stressed that it plays no role in determining visa approvals, as admission into a country remains the responsibility of national authorities.
The development comes as Partey continues to face legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. The 32-year-old has been charged by London’s Metropolitan Police with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. He has denied all allegations and is awaiting trial.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign begins against Panama at BMO Field in Toronto before the team returns to the United States for its remaining group matches against England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
Canadian immigration officials have not commented publicly on the matter, citing privacy regulations. However, Canada’s immigration laws allow authorities to refuse entry to individuals based on various admissibility grounds, including criminal-related concerns.
As of the time of reporting, neither the Ghana Football Association nor Canadian authorities had released a detailed explanation regarding the decision.
Partey’s absence would be a significant setback for the Black Stars, who will be hoping to secure a positive result in their opening match of the tournament.
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