Partey barred from Canada,…

Thomas Partey will not participate in Ghana‘s opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Panama due to visa issues preventing his entry into Canada.

Ghana is set to kick off their World Cup journey on Wednesday in Toronto, but Partey, age 32, will be absent as the Canadian government has denied his visa application.

Partey is facing seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, as charged by London’s Metropolitan Police, and is currently awaiting trial.

He has pleaded not guilty to all allegations. His trial, initially scheduled for November at Southwark Crown Court, has been delayed and is now set to commence on June 8, 2027.

FIFA released a statement that noted, “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, June 17, as his visa application has been denied by the Canadian government.”

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including visa adjudication. As with past FIFA events, the host government has the final say on who receives a visa and is allowed entry,” the statement continued.

A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released a statement to ESPN on behalf of Minister Lena Diab regarding the visa denial.

“Canada is proud to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to ensure a successful event while also prioritizing the safety and security of Canadians,” the statement read.

“Hosting major events does not alter Canada’s immigration laws. Each individual seeking entry into Canada is assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering the facts and applicable law,” the statement concluded.

Partey, who played for Arsenal from 2020 to 2025, is now with Villarreal. He has earned 57 caps for Ghana and participated in their most recent friendly against Wales on June 2.

However, as the squad prepares to travel from their base in Rhode Island to Canada, Partey will not be part of the delegation.

Following the visa denial, Partey returned to Rhode Island on Friday. He is expected to be eligible to play on June 23 when Ghana takes on England in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ghana’s group stage concludes on June 27 against Croatia in Philadelphia.

ESPN has reached out to the Ghana Football Association for comments on the situation.

Partey has previously appeared in court to plead not guilty to all charges and is currently on bail with a condition not to contact the alleged victims. The next hearing in his case is scheduled for October 2.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.