Thomas Partey Barred from Entering Canada Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Ghana's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been severely disrupted, as midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied entry into Canada and will subsequently miss the team's opening match against Panama.

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The Canadian authorities' refusal to grant Partey a visa means the 32-year-old Villarreal player, formerly of Arsenal, will be unable to join his teammates, despite being based in Boston with the Ghanaian squad.

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FIFA has confirmed that it has no involvement in the immigration decisions made by host countries, including the approval or rejection of visa applications, with the governing body stating that these decisions are the sole responsibility of the host government.

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A statement from FIFA emphasized that the organization is not part of the immigration process, reiterating that the host country has the final say in determining who is granted a visa and allowed to enter the country.

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Partey's absence is a significant blow to Ghana's chances, as he is one of the team's most influential players and was expected to play a key role in the match against Panama in Toronto.

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The experienced midfielder's unavailability comes as a result of his visa application being rejected, with the player currently embroiled in ongoing legal proceedings, having pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault.

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These allegations, made by four women between 2020 and 2022, have led to Partey being scheduled to stand trial next year, although Canadian authorities have not publicly disclosed the reasons behind their decision to deny him a visa.

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The case is likely to fuel further debate about immigration policies at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and has already been marred by several off-field controversies.

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Somali referee Omar Artan was recently removed from FIFA's list of match officials after being denied entry into the United States, while Iran's football federation has also complained about the revocation of its allocation of supporters' tickets for group-stage matches.

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With Partey unavailable, Ghana must now prepare to face Panama without one of their most experienced players, as they seek to make a strong start to their World Cup campaign.

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Ghana is appearing at the World Cup for the fifth time and will be hoping to progress beyond the group stage, despite the setback of losing Partey, as coach Otto Addo and his team look to overcome this significant challenge.