Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canada refused his visa application, citing the multiple rape and sexual assault charges he faces in the United Kingdom. FIFA confirmed on Friday that Partey, 32, would be unable to travel from Ghana's team base camp in Rhode Island to Toronto, where Ghana are scheduled to play Panama in Group L on Wednesday, 17 June. The football governing body was clear that the decision lay entirely outside its jurisdiction: "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."
Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that every individual seeking entry is assessed on their specific circumstances under Canadian law, and that hosting a major sporting event does not alter those laws. Canadian immigration regulations note that individuals who have committed or been convicted of a crime may be denied entry — a provision that can apply even where charges have not resulted in a conviction. Partey was charged by London's Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, and pleaded not guilty in September 2025. Two further rape charges were added in February 2026, to which he also pleaded not guilty in April. His trial is expected to be heard at Southwark Crown Court in London in November or later. Partey, who left Arsenal after the 2024–25 season and now plays for Villarreal in Spain, has consistently denied all allegations.
The visa denial is a significant setback for Ghana, known as the Black Stars and making their fifth appearance at the last six World Cups. Partey is one of the team's most experienced players, having earned 58 international caps and scored 16 goals, including three during the qualifying campaign for this tournament. He travelled with the squad to Washington, D.C. on 4 June before the team relocated to its Rhode Island base. He will, however, remain eligible for Ghana's two remaining group-stage fixtures on United States soil — against England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on 23 June, and against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June.
The case draws wider attention to how host nations are navigating the intersection of immigration law and elite sport during a World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Partey is not the only high-profile player in this position: Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi is also awaiting trial on rape charges in Paris, though his situation has not yet affected his tournament participation. For now, Ghana must regroup and plan their opener against Panama without one of their most influential midfielders.