Ghana has launched a diplomatic effort to overturn Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey entry into the country, escalating one of the most controversial immigration disputes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars midfielder was refused permission to enter Canada ahead of Ghana’s opening Group L fixture against Panama in Toronto, forcing him to remain at the team’s base camp in Boston while his teammates prepare for the tournament opener.
The decision has triggered strong criticism from Ghanaian authorities, who argue that the former Arsenal midfielder has been denied entry despite not being convicted of any crime.
Partey is due to stand trial after being charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four women. The 33-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has now publicly condemned Canada’s decision and revealed that the government has formally engaged the relevant authorities in an attempt to secure a review.
“If any Ghanaian is touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it,” Adams said.
“Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting for them to use all processes to review and give opportunity for a review of such a decision.”
The minister argued that the refusal contradicts the principle that individuals should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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According to Adams, Partey followed all required procedures, including attending biometric appointments as part of his visa application process, before learning that his application had been rejected.
“Thomas was one of the players who was asked to go to the embassy for his biometrics, and then we got the decision that he has been denied entry to Canada on very flimsy grounds,” Adams said.
“I say flimsy because the person has already been charged, he has not been found guilty.”
The Ghanaian government also pointed to the fact that Partey remains free to live and work in the United Kingdom while awaiting trial.
“Even in the country where they claim he committed the act, for which reason he is in court, which he has denied, he is still living there as a free citizen,” Adams added.
“This is absolutely wrong. I don’t understand why today Canada is interpreting their rules to suggest that a charge means guilty.”
Canadian authorities have defended their position.
Immigration officials reiterated that every visitor is assessed individually based on available facts and applicable law, stressing that hosting the World Cup does not alter the country’s immigration regulations.
FIFA has also backed Canada’s right to make its own immigration decisions, emphasizing that visa approvals remain the responsibility of host governments rather than football’s governing body.
The dispute has added another African dimension to what is becoming a recurring World Cup theme.
Only days earlier, Somali referee Omar Artan Africa’s Referee of the Year for 2025 and the first Somali official selected for a FIFA World Cup was denied entry into the United States despite being appointed by FIFA to officiate at the tournament.
Artan’s case sparked widespread debate across the continent before UEFA later appointed him to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, a move widely viewed as recognition of his standing within world football.
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While the circumstances surrounding the two cases differ significantly, both incidents have fuelled discussion across Africa about how immigration decisions are affecting the participation of African representatives at football’s biggest event.
Partey will miss the clash against Panama in Toronto, but he remains eligible to feature in Ghana’s remaining group stage matches against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia, both of which will be played in the United States.
However, the issue could resurface later in the tournament.
Should Ghana progress as Group L runners-up, they would be required to return to Toronto for a Round of 32 fixture, potentially creating another obstacle if Canada’s position remains unchanged.
