Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Panama after a Canadian court in Ottawa upheld the decision to deny him entry into the country.
The Arsenal star lost his appeal against the refusal of a Temporary Resident Visa, triggered by ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Despite frantic last-minute diplomatic and legal efforts by the Ghanaian government, the court ruled in favour of Canadian immigration authorities.
During the hearing, lawyers for the Canadian government firmly argued that Partey should not be granted special treatment simply because he is a professional footballer, stressing that immigration laws apply equally to all applicants. The judge agreed, bringing an end to days of intense negotiations.
Partey, who has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women in the UK, remains unavailable for the match scheduled at BMO Field in Toronto.
His absence represents a major blow to coach Carlos Queiroz, who had earmarked the experienced 33-year-old as the anchor of Ghana’s midfield for the Group L campaign.
While the setback is significant for the Black Stars’ opening fixture, there is some relief for Ghana fans: Partey has already been granted entry into the United States. He remains eligible to feature in Ghana’s subsequent group matches against England and Croatia.
The development adds further drama to Ghana’s preparations as they prepare to launch their World Cup campaign without one of their most influential players. The focus now shifts to how Queiroz reshuffles his squad for what promises to be a challenging opener against Panama.
