Why Thomas Partey was denied entry to Canada for Ghana’s World Cup opener

The 33-year-old has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.

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Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry to Canada.

The 33-year-old has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial next year.

FIFA confirmed Thomas Partey, now with Spanish club Villarreal, cannot travel from Ghana’s training base in Boston after his visa application was refused by the Canadian government.

A FIFA statement read: “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. The host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

Canadian authorities reiterated that hosting the 2026 World Cup does not alter the country’s immigration laws, with every applicant assessed individually.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in statement to the BBC: “Canada is proud to be a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians.

“Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws. Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.”

A US Customs and Border Protection official added: “The US is aware of the pending court case for Mr Partey, however, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa.

“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection.

“CBP [customs and border protection] officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with US law. CBP defers to Canada for questions on his denial of entry. ”

Despite the setback, Partey could still feature in Ghana’s remaining Group L fixtures against England and Croatia, both of which will be played in the United States.

Ghana sports minister Kofi Adams described the decision as “absolutely wrong”, arguing that Partey has been charged but not convicted. The news has also sparked strong reactions among Ghanaian supporters on social media.

Prior to the tournament, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz defended his decision to include Partey in his squad, despite the ongoing legal case

“If the player is here with me, my answer is clear,” said Queiroz. “I don’t have any comments about my own decisions. He is here so what are we talking about?

“This is not for me or you to make a judgement about. Let the events run their normal course; let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we are going to find the truth.”

Ghana’s government has expressed strong reservations following Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey a visa, with officials considering diplomatic interventions over the Black Stars midfielder’s exclusion from the FIFA World Cup squad travel plans.