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Ghana will be without one of its most recognizable players when they kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto. Thomas Partey, the 32-year-old Villarreal midfielder, has reportedly been denied entry to Canada, throwing a wrench into the Black Stars’ tournament plans before a ball has even been kicked.
Partey was named to Ghana’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 26 despite facing seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in the UK. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A squad selection that was always going to be complicated
The pending UK charges, which date back to initial allegations in 2022 with additional counts added in 2026, created an obvious logistical problem for a tournament being co-hosted across North America.
Ghana’s group stage schedule spans both Canada and the United States. The opener against Panama takes place in Toronto, while subsequent matches against England and Croatia are set for US venues. The team has set up its base camp in Rhode Island for the duration of the tournament.
Ghana’s Sports Minister Kofi Adams attempted to get ahead of the story on June 11, telling media he had no knowledge of any visa denial for Partey. Adams also noted that the midfielder had previously resolved issues concerning his US visa.
As of June 12, neither Canadian immigration authorities nor the Ghana Football Association had released official confirmation of a visa denial.
What this means for Ghana’s World Cup campaign
There’s also the question of whether Partey will be available for the subsequent group matches in the US. Adams’ comments about previously resolved US visa issues suggest some groundwork was laid on that front.
FIFA has no explicit rule preventing the selection of players facing criminal charges, leaving that judgment call to individual federations.
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