Breaking news on Friday, ahead of Day 2 of the 2026 World Cup, states that Ghana star Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada for their opening match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17. This denial comes after multiple criminal charges against him in the UK. Dan Sheldon of The Athletic broke the news less than one hour ago.
“Thomas Partey will play no part in Ghana’s first World Cup game in Toronto as he has been denied entry to Canada. The former Arsenal midfielder, now of Villarreal, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by London’s Metropolitan Police. In September of that year, he pleaded not guilty. He was charged with two new counts of rape in February this year, to which he pleaded not guilty in April.”
Canada opens their play in Toronto at BMO Field against Bosnia in just over one hour. Ghana and Panama will play in the same stadium on Wednesday for their opener. Partey will not be there, but is still in the plans to play in America for the next two games in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Here is FIFA’s statement to The Athletic, via Sheldon.
“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.”
Sheldon states that Partey has not yet been convicted, as he still awaits a trial. Stay tuned for more on this story.
The post Ghana star denied entry to Canada for World Cup due to criminal charges in UK appeared first on ClutchPoints.
