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Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s opening World Cup fixture against Panama after Canadian authorities denied him a visa, FIFA confirmed on Friday, in a decision that rules the midfielder out of the match scheduled in Toronto.
The Villarreal midfielder and former Arsenal player is currently facing legal proceedings in Britain, where he has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A trial has been scheduled for next year, meaning he remains eligible to feature at international level pending the outcome of the case.
FIFA confirmed the travel restriction, stating 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 governing body stressed it does not intervene in immigration decisions, adding that it is “not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas.” FIFA further noted that, “as with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
Canadian immigration authorities, responding to the situation, said they could not comment on individual cases but emphasised that security considerations guide all decisions. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that its officers “apply its rules consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament.”
It added that officers assess eligibility under immigration law and “if they believe that an individual could pose a security risk, they may decide to deny them entry.”
While Canada has blocked Partey’s entry for the opener, he remains eligible for Ghana’s remaining Group L matches against England and Croatia, both scheduled in the United States. However, Ghana could again face logistical complications if they progress to knockout matches hosted in Canada.
US authorities, meanwhile, confirmed awareness of Partey’s pending legal case but said he has not been convicted and was cleared for entry after receiving a visa. The US Customs and Border Protection agency noted that “admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information.”
The visa denial comes amid broader scrutiny of immigration policies affecting international sports events, with reports of other athletes, officials, and fans facing entry restrictions in recent tournaments.
