Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada, which means he will not participate in Ghana’s opening match of the World Cup in Toronto on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Villarreal, faced serious allegations in July 2025, being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty. In February, he was hit with two additional counts of rape, also pleading not guilty.
Despite traveling to the United States with the Ghana squad on June 4 and undergoing a training camp in Boston, Partey’s situation shifted when FIFA announced that his visa application had been rejected by Canadian authorities.
“Fifa is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous Fifa events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country,”
the organization stated in a release.
Previously residing in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, Partey transferred to Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 for approximately £45 million, leaving the club in June of the previous year. Ghana’s next match will see them face England, who are set to play Croatia in their opening game on Wednesday, with their encounter scheduled for June 23 in Boston.
Visa Rejection Explained
Canada’s immigration department issued a statement clarifying that it cannot comment on individual cases without the consent of those involved, but emphasized that its staff apply regulations uniformly, “consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament”
The department further noted that trained officers are responsible for evaluating an individual’s eligibility and admissibility according to Canadian immigration laws.
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