Ghana’s hopes of having Thomas Partey available for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback after a Canadian court upheld the decision to deny the midfielder entry into the country.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday following an appeal hearing in which Partey’s legal representatives sought to overturn the visa refusal that prevented him from travelling to Toronto with the rest of the Black Stars squad.
As a result, the 33-year-old will miss Ghana’s Group L opener against Panama on Wednesday, dealing a significant blow to Otto Addo’s side ahead of one of their most important matches of the tournament.
The latest development comes just days after Ghanaian authorities publicly challenged Canada’s decision to refuse the former Arsenal midfielder entry despite him not having been convicted of any offence.
Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, had strongly criticized the decision, describing it as unfair and arguing that Partey should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Ghanaian government subsequently engaged Canadian authorities through diplomatic channels in an effort to secure a review of the ruling.
READMORE: ‘We all feel the pain’ – Osimhen admits World Cup miss still hurts
Partey’s visa difficulties stem from ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where he faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.
The midfielder has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is due to stand trial later this year.
Canadian immigration authorities had maintained throughout the dispute that every visitor is assessed individually under the country’s immigration laws and that participation in the World Cup does not exempt individuals from those regulations.
FIFA has also backed Canada’s right to make its own immigration decisions, insisting that visa approvals remain the responsibility of host governments.
The ruling means Partey remains unable to enter Canada and will be forced to watch from afar as Ghana begin their World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto.
The absence of one of the Black Stars’ most experienced players represents a significant challenge for Ghana, who had hoped Partey’s experience and leadership would play a key role in their bid to progress from Group L.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
The midfielder’s availability for the remainder of the tournament remains less complicated as Ghana’s next two group matches against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia will both be played in the United States.
However, the issue could return later in the competition. should Ghana advance to the knockout stages 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.
