World Cup: Thomas Partey loses visa bid as he misses Ghana opener after being banned from Canada
Ghana will be without midfielder Thomas Partey for their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canada’s Federal Court upheld a decision to deny entry to the country.
Referee Roger Lafreniere dismissed Partey’s appeal on Tuesday, ending the midfielder’s hopes of joining the Black Stars in Toronto for Wednesday’s Group L opener against Panama at BMO Field.
The ruling came after Partey’s legal team filed for emergency relief as a result of the visa denial prevented the former Arsenal player from traveling to Canada with the rest of the Ghana squad. Lafreniere ruled that Partey had not shown sufficient grounds for such relief.
The Canadian government refused Partey’s visa application due to pending criminal proceedings in the UK. The 32-year-old man faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in connection with allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to go to trial later this year.
During the hearing, Canadian authorities argued that hosting the World Cup did not qualify for exemptions from the country’s immigration laws and that Partey should not receive special treatment because of his status as a professional soccer player.
In a statement submitted as part of the appeal, Partey emphasized that he continues to be presumed innocent under the law.
“I have not been convicted of any crime. I have pleaded guilty and remain presumed innocent,” Partey said.
Despite being unable to travel to Canada, Partey remained with the Ghana team at their World Cup base in Providence, Rhode Island, participating in training and preparations.
The decision is a setback for Ghana on the eve of their World Cup campaign as head coach Carlos Queiroz was forced to start the tournament without one of his most experienced players.
However, Queiroz indicated that the uncertainty surrounding Partey’s availability had not disrupted his plans for the match in Panama.
“My job is to play with the cards in front of me,” Queiroz told reporters on Tuesday. “We are waiting for the decision. When the decision comes, we will be ready.”
Sources in the Ghana camp also indicated that a favorable verdict at such a late stage would have little impact on the team’s preparations.
“The coach already had his game day strategy worked out. Win or lose, not much would have changed for this game,” a source told ESPN.
The Ghanaian government publicly supported Partey’s appeal, calling the visa denial “arbitrary and extremely unfair”, but the intervention did not change the outcome.
Partey, who currently plays for Villarreal, scored 16 goals in 58 appearances for Ghana and was a key figure during their World Cup qualifying campaign, contributing three goals.
While he will miss Wednesday’s match against Panama, Partey is expected to rejoin the squad for Ghana’s remaining Group L games against England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27, both of which will be played in the United States.
Now Ghana’s focus shifts to Panama as the four-time African champions begin their World Cup journey without one of the most influential players of their generation.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
17 Jun 2026 06:29 IST