Thomas Partey denied Canada entry, out of Ghana's opener

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Panama on Wednesday after being denied entry to Canada.

The 32-year-old Villarreal player was refused a visa by the Canadian government due to ongoing legal proceedings in London, where he faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial at Southwark Crown Court was recently delayed until June 2027.

FIFA confirmed the visa denial in a statement, noting that host governments hold ultimate authority over immigration decisions and that soccer's governing body cannot intervene. While the rest of the Ghana squad travels from their training base in the United States to Toronto, the veteran midfielder will remain behind, delivering a significant blow to the Black Stars' World Cup campaign.