en.malanginspirasi.com – Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening Group L match against Panama on June 17 for the national team game opener of FIFA World Cup 2026 due to entry permit.
The game will be held at BMO Field while Canadian authorities refused him entry, despite him holding a valid U.S. visa.
The 32-year-old Villarreal player and Ghana vice-captain faces ongoing charges in the UK of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2022.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz included Partey in the squad on the principle of presumption of innocence.
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However, Canadian immigration rules, which prioritize public safety considerations, have blocked his travel for the match.
He remains available for Ghana’s subsequent matches on U.S. soil against England and Croatia.FIFA issued a statement confirming the situation:
“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, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.
“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 case highlights the tension between sporting selection decisions and host-country immigration policies during major tournaments.
Partey, a key figure for Ghana, will stay with the squad in Boston while his legal situation in the UK continues.
