Canada Visa Refused: Partey Out of Panama Match

Ghana national team vice-captain and midfielder Thomas Partey will not be able to play in his country's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Villarreal player's visa application to the Canadian government has been refused. The decision, made official through the statement made by FIFA via The Athletic, created widespread reverberations in the football world.

Ghana will play its first Group L match against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday, June 17. The team's base camp is in Boston in the US. Partey not being granted passage to Canada means the team will be deprived of a critical name in their midfield. FIFA's statement confirmed that the player will not be able to travel from the Boston camp to Toronto, and emphasised that FIFA is not involved in immigration processes and that the host country holds the final authority.

The Canadian government states on its official website that individuals who have "committed or been convicted of a crime" may not be allowed entry into the country. Although Partey has been formally charged, no conviction has yet been issued; the player is awaiting trial. The Canadian Immigration Office IRCC stated to The Athletic that they cannot provide individual-specific information due to confidentiality.

The 32-year-old midfielder was charged in July 2025 by London's Metropolitan Police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. This number rose to seven rapes in February with two additional rape charges. There are allegations against three women in total. The alleged incidents are said to have taken place during the player's 2021-2022 period at Arsenal. Partey denies all the charges and maintains his innocence. His trial at Southwark Crown Court will begin on November 2, 2026; it is stated that the process may extend to 2027. The process is estimated to take six to eight weeks.

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz had defended the player's inclusion in the squad at the beginning of June. Queiroz had argued that social media and the press act with impunity, and that players are convicted before having the opportunity to defend themselves. Queiroz had made his analogy that the truth will emerge over time with these expressions: "Let the river flow, and one day when the river meets the ocean, we will find the truth." Partey had served in six official matches with the national team jersey since the charges began. Goal.com US

Ghana will face England in Foxborough on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27 after Panama in Group L. There is no obstacle yet on whether Partey can serve in the matches in the US; the problem in Canada does not affect entry to the United States. This situation means that Ghana will take the field with an important absence in their Toronto opener; however, Partey may be in the squad in subsequent matches.

Source: The Athletic

Image: si.com