Ghana’s hopes of having midfielder Thomas Partey available for its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a setback after a Canadian court reportedly dismissed an appeal challenging a decision to deny him entry into the country.
The ruling means the Black Stars will be without one of their key players for their Group L opener against Panama, scheduled for today June 17 in Toronto.
According to reports, Canadian immigration authorities rejected Partey’s Temporary Resident Visa application due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where the midfielder is facing multiple rape charges.
The Government of Ghana had sought to secure his entry through diplomatic engagements, arguing that the player has not been convicted of any offence and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence under the law.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had earlier disclosed that efforts were underway to engage Canadian authorities in a bid to resolve the matter before Ghana’s opening fixture.
However, the court’s decision has effectively ruled the player out of the match unless there is a further legal or administrative intervention.
Partey reportedly remained in the United States while the rest of the Ghana squad travelled to Toronto to continue preparations for the tournament.
The midfielder has denied all allegations through his legal representatives, and the criminal proceedings against him in the United Kingdom remain ongoing.
Ghana will begin its World Cup campaign against Panama before facing further Group L encounters against England and Croatia as it seeks to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.
