A Canadian federal court has dismissed an emergency appeal by Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, confirming that he will be unable to enter the country for the Black Stars' opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday. Judge Roger Lafreniere rejected the bid, writing that Partey had sought "extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief" that would have required Canada to set aside a "lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding" — a legal bar the court was unwilling to cross. Partey's lawyer, Mackeda Bramwell, said ahead of the ruling that the team would not pursue further appeals if the judge ruled against them.
Partey, 33, currently plays club football for Villarreal in Spain's top division and is vice-captain of Ghana's national team, known as the Black Stars. He was charged in the United Kingdom in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault related to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022, when he was playing for Arsenal in the English Premier League. Two additional rape charges were added in early 2026. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all counts, and a trial is not expected until 2027. Canada's immigration law allows authorities to bar foreign nationals on the basis of serious pending criminal proceedings, even without a conviction — a provision that does not apply in the same way in the United States, which has granted Partey a visa. He will therefore be available for Ghana's remaining Group L matches against England and Croatia, both of which are scheduled to be played on American soil.
Ghana's government has pushed back strongly against the decision. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa acknowledged Canada's sovereign right to control its borders but argued that Partey was not travelling as a private citizen. "He represents our national colours, wears the jersey of Ghana, and is meant to fulfil a duty on behalf of our country," Ablakwa said. Ghana officially protested the visa refusal last week, though Canadian immigration authorities declined to comment on the individual case. Ghana's coach, Carlos Queiroz, adopted a more pragmatic tone, saying his team had a plan in place and was ready to compete with the players available to him.
The case has stirred debate both in Ghana and among the country's diaspora in Canada. Some fans and officials view the visa denial as unjust given that no verdict has been reached, while others note that the allegations — seven counts of sexual offences — are serious crimes under Ghanaian law itself, carrying prison sentences of up to 25 years. The Ghanaian government had made no public statements about the allegations prior to the diplomatic dispute over the visa, a silence that has drawn scrutiny in some quarters. The contrast between Canadian and American entry requirements has added another layer of complexity to a case that sits at the intersection of immigration law, sport, and ongoing judicial proceedings.