World Cup 2026: Thomas Partey denied entry into Canada ahead of Ghana opener - what we know

In the last agelong of Ghana's mentation for their World Cup opener, Thomas Partey has been denied introduction into Canada, according to The Athletic. The broadside managed by Carlos Queiroz look Panama connected Wednesday, June 17, astatine the BMO Field successful Toronto, successful the opening fixture of Group L.

The Villarreal midfielder was charged with 5 counts of rape and 1 number of intersexual battle successful July 2025 by London's Metropolitan Police, portion helium was inactive playing for Arsenal. In September of that year, helium pleaded not guilty. In February of this year, Partey was charged with 2 further counts of rape, to which helium besides pleaded not blameworthy successful April.

Speaking to The Athletic, FIFA confirmed the 32-year-old's lack from Ghana's lucifer connected Canadian ungraded aft his visa exertion was refused. The governing assemblage reiterated that it 'is not progressive successful the migration processes of big countries, including the adjudication of visas'.

Called up astatine the commencement of the month, Partey arrived successful the United States connected June 4 without immoderate contented with his visa. On Friday, June 12, helium and the remainder of the Ghana delegation were heading to the team's grooming basal successful Boston. As Ghana's remaining group-stage fixtures volition beryllium played successful the United States - against England astatine the Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough connected June 23, and Croatia astatine the Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia connected June 27 - the midfielder is eligible to diagnostic successful those matches.

The presumption of the Canadian government

The Canadian government's website states that 'if you person committed oregon been convicted of a crime, you whitethorn not beryllium allowed to participate the country'. Partey has been charged, but is awaiting proceedings and determination is nary verdict successful his case. His proceeding was primitively acceptable for November 2026, but has been pushed backmost to June 8, 2027.

In a connection earlier the commencement of the tournament, Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department (IRCC) said that 'the information of Canadians is our precedence arsenic we invited tourney participants and visitors from astir the world'.

The ministry added: 'That is wherefore the IRCC applies its rules consistently and without exception, careless of nationality, illustration oregon relation astatine the World Cup. IRCC officers are trained professionals who marque decisions and measure an individual's eligibility and admissibility successful accordance with Canadian migration law. If they judge an idiosyncratic whitethorn airs a information risk, they tin determine to contradict entry.'

The allegations of rape against Thomas Partey

The archetypal six allegations of rape and intersexual battle against the Ghanaian subordinate were made by 3 women, with the alleged offences said to person taken spot successful 2021 and 2022. Detectives from London's Metropolitan Police began the probe successful February 2022 aft receiving the study of the alleged offence.

The 2 further allegations of rape subordinate to a 4th woman, who made a abstracted study of an alleged offence dating backmost to 2020. The caller allegations were archetypal reported to the constabulary past August.

It is worthy noting that Partey continued to play usually for Arsenal until the extremity of his declaration successful 2024-25. That season, the midfielder featured 35 times. In August of past year, the Ghanaian moved to Villarreal, wherever helium made 32 appearances. His declaration successful Spain runs retired successful June, but determination is an enactment to widen it for a further year.

All 8 charges volition beryllium heard astatine Southwark Crown Court successful London. As a information of his bail, Partey is required to notify the authorities of immoderate plans to alteration code oregon question abroad, and is not allowed to marque interaction with the complainants.