Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ opening FIFA World Cup match against Panama after being denied entry into Canada.
As first reported by The Athletic, FIFA confirmed that the 32-year-old, who currently plays for Spanish club Villarreal, cannot travel to Toronto for the Group L fixture scheduled for June 17 at BMO Field after Canadian authorities rejected his visa application.
Partey is facing seven rape charges and one sexual assault charge in the United Kingdom. The former Arsenal midfielder was initially charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 and pleaded not guilty in September. He was later charged with two additional counts of rape in February 2026 and again entered not guilty pleas in April.
In a statement, FIFA said it had no role in the visa decision.
Canadian immigration rules state that individuals who have committed or been convicted of a crime may be denied entry. Partey has been charged but has not been convicted and is awaiting trial.
Despite missing the Panama match, Partey remains eligible to play in Ghana’s remaining group-stage fixtures in the United States.
Ghana face England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27.
Partey was named in Ghana’s World Cup squad earlier this month and arrived in the United States with the team on June 4. The Black Stars are currently based in Rhode Island.
The case against Partey is due to be heard at Southwark Crown Court in London. The charges relate to allegations made by four women concerning incidents alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2022. Partey denies all allegations.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, on the eve of the World Cup, said his organisation cannot rule on government policies in the wake of Somali referee being denied entry into the United States.
“We try always to find solutions – always,” Infantino said at a news conference in Mexico City. But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces and I don’t know what. We are a sports organisation; we try to do our best with the means that we have.”
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