Partey denied entry to Canada

By Kwame Ofori — 12 June 2026 — 3 min read

Partey denied entry to Canada

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not participate in his nation’s initial World Cup 2026 match in Toronto against Panama. This development follows the denial of his entry into Canada. Partey, who is 32 years old, has entered a plea of not guilty to several charges, including seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. These allegations stem from incidents reported by four different women between the years 2020 and 2022.

FIFA confirmed that the former Arsenal player, now with Villarreal, is unable to travel from Ghana‘s training base in Boston. His visa application was refused by the Canadian government. FIFA clarified that it does not manage the immigration processes of host nations, including visa adjudication, as the host government ultimately decides who receives a visa and is permitted entry.

Legal proceedings and team impact

According to the Canadian government’s website, individuals who have committed or been convicted of a crime may be denied entry into the country. Although Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has not been convicted, he is awaiting trial. A US Customs and Border Protection official noted that the US is aware of Partey‘s pending court case but admitted him into the United States after issuing a visa, as he has not been convicted of a crime at this time.

Admissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, considering law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available during inspection. US Customs and Border Protection officers have the authority to question travellers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility in line with US law. They defer to Canada regarding the denial of entry for Partey.

Prior to the tournament, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz expressed no reservations about selecting Partey. Queiroz stated that his decision was clear if the player was present with the team, and he would not comment on his own choices, indicating that judgment should be reserved until events unfold.

Upcoming matches and tournament implications

Partey is currently on bail during the legal proceedings, with a condition that he does not contact the alleged victims. He is available to play in Ghana‘s subsequent Group L fixtures. Ghana is scheduled to play against England in their second group match on June 23 in Boston, USA, where Partey and the squad have been training. Their final group game is against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

The situation with Partey is not an isolated incident involving host nation authorities for the World Cup 2026, which is being held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Other incidents include Iraq striker Aymen Hussein being questioned for several hours at a Chicago airport before being allowed entry. Iran was compelled to change their base location to Mexico, had fan tickets revoked, and some delegation members were denied visas.

Additionally, Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the US due to his alleged association with suspected members of terror organisations. Artan, who held a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa, reported being questioned about links to a Somali militant group, which he denied. He was voted the 2025 Confederation of African Football men’s referee of the year and has been on FIFA‘s international list since 2018, set to be the first Somali to referee at the World Cup finals. Partey‘s next hearing in his case is set for October 2, 2026, with his trial beginning on June 8, 2027.

Source: bbc.co.uk