Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama after losing a final legal appeal challenging Canada’s decision to deny him entry into the country.
The 33-year-old former Arsenal star, who now plays for Spanish club Villarreal, sought to overturn the visa refusal through a last-minute application at Ottawa’s Federal Court. However, the court dismissed the challenge, effectively ending his hopes of featuring in Ghana’s World Cup fixture in Toronto.
Court documents revealed that Partey’s initial temporary resident visa application, submitted on May 21, stated that he had never been arrested, charged, convicted of, or committed any criminal offence in any country. Canadian immigration officials later questioned the accuracy of that declaration, citing concerns that the application may have failed to disclose important information.
Partey is currently facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in the United Kingdom involving allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He has consistently denied all allegations and has pleaded not guilty to every charge. His trial is scheduled to begin next year.
According to court filings, Canadian immigration authorities raised concerns about whether the midfielder had truthfully answered questions on his visa application. A letter sent by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also warned that he could be deemed inadmissible under provisions relating to misrepresentation.
The Federal Court noted that responses submitted on Partey’s behalf failed to adequately explain why details regarding the criminal charges were omitted from the original application. The ruling further stated that Canadian law does not necessarily require a criminal conviction before an individual can be considered inadmissible.
In his judgment, Justice Roger R. Lafreniere held that immigration officials acted within the law when assessing the application, noting that reasonable grounds to believe an offence may have been committed can be sufficient under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The decision means Ghana will have to begin their World Cup campaign without one of their most experienced players. The Black Stars face Panama in Toronto before taking on England in Boston and Croatia later in the group stage.
While Canada denied his entry request, Partey has already been granted a visa to the United States and remains eligible to feature in Ghana’s matches scheduled on American soil.
The visa controversy has generated significant attention throughout the tournament, highlighting the complex intersection of immigration policy, international sporting events, and ongoing legal proceedings. For Ghana, however, the immediate focus will be on navigating a crucial World Cup opener without one of its key midfield figures.
Discover more from Scoop Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
