Villarreal's Ghanian midfielder Thomas Partey. | Photo Credit: AP

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s opening Group L match against Panama on June 17 after he was denied entry to Canada.

The Athletic reported on Friday, that the Villareal footballer Partey, who has been charged with multiple counts of rape by London’s Metropolitan Police, will not be allowed to enter the co-host Canada.

Partey pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape in March and is separately awaiting trial on five counts of rape related to two women and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman.

A FIFA statement to the Athletic read, “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.

FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

Partey, 32, pleaded not guilty to the first set of charges and faces trial in November at Southwark Crown Court. Those alleged offences were between 2021 and 2022, prosecutors have said.

The midfielder had joined Arsenal in 2020 from Atletico Madrid.

He was initially charged last July, just days after his Arsenal contract expired. Villarreal signed him in August, two days after he was granted bail.

Ghana is in the same group as England, Croatia and Panama.

Partey played in three World Cup qualifying games in September and October. He’s made more than 50 appearances for Ghana.

Published on Jun 12, 2026