Thomas Partey, Ghana, FIFA, Canada
12 June 2026
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto after Canada refused his visa application. FIFA said host governments control immigration decisions, while Partey remains in Ghana’s U.S. camp and can face England and Croatia.
The decision links World Cup access issues to Partey’s pending UK trial on rape and sexual assault charges, which he denies. Ghana’s sports minister criticised the refusal, while Canada said every entrant is assessed individually under immigration law.