Thomas Partey’s absence from Ghana’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Panama may be just the beginning of a larger problem for the Black Stars, with the midfielder at risk of missing additional fixtures should the team advance in the tournament.
The Villarreal midfielder has already been ruled out of Ghana’s Group L opener in Toronto after Canadian authorities reportedly rejected his visa application, preventing him from entering the country.
While Partey remains available for Ghana’s remaining group-stage matches against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia, both of which are scheduled to take place in the United States, his participation in the knockout rounds could also be affected.
Under the tournament’s format, Ghana could find themselves returning to Canada if they progress beyond the group stage.
Should the Black Stars finish second in Group L, they would play their Round of 32 match in Toronto, a fixture Partey would be unable to feature in due to his inability to enter Canada.
Similarly, if Ghana qualify as one of the best third-placed teams and advance from the Round of 32, they would play their Round of 16 match in Vancouver, which would also rule the midfielder out of contention.
As a result, Partey would only be available for matches staged in the United States, creating a significant selection challenge for head coach Carlos Queiroz should Ghana enjoy a successful run at the tournament.
The situation has already forced Queiroz to consider alternative options for the Panama encounter, with highly-rated midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi among the players expected to step up in Partey’s absence.
Partey is currently facing multiple rape and sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom and has pleaded not guilty to all counts. The midfielder remains awaiting trial.
Neither FIFA nor the Canadian authorities have publicly disclosed the exact reason for the visa refusal, although Canada’s immigration laws permit authorities to deny entry to individuals facing certain criminal proceedings.
Ghana begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 before taking on England and Croatia in their remaining Group L fixtures. While the Black Stars remain focused on reaching the knockout stages, Partey’s uncertain availability has added another layer of complexity to their World Cup ambitions.
