2026 W/Cup: Partey Denied Entry Into Canada, To Miss Ghana’s Opener Against Panama

Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada. The 32-year-old Villarreal midfielder faces multiple sexual assault charges in the UK, including five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty. While Canada’s government can deny entry to those convicted or charged with crimes, Partey has not been convicted. He arrived with Ghana’s squad in Washington D.C. on June 4 and remains eligible to play in the team’s other Group L matches against England and Croatia in the United States.

A FIFA statement said: “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.”