Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a major blow following confirmation that experienced midfielder Thomas Partey will be unavailable for the Black Stars’ opening Group L match against Panama.
The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Villarreal CF, was included in Ghana’s squad for the tournament being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. He travelled with the team to the United States and joined preparations ahead of the competition.
However, FIFA has announced that Partey will not be able to travel to Canada for Ghana’s first fixture after Canadian authorities rejected his visa application. As a result, he will miss the Black Stars’ clash with Panama scheduled for June 17 at Toronto’s BMO Field.
In a statement, FIFA clarified that it has no influence over immigration decisions made by host countries. The world football governing body explained that visa approvals and entry permissions remain the responsibility of individual governments, even during FIFA tournaments.
The absence of Partey represents a significant setback for Ghana, as he remains one of the most experienced players in the national team setup. His leadership and midfield presence were expected to play a key role in the country’s World Cup campaign.
Partey’s visa issue comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. In 2025, London’s Metropolitan Police charged him with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. He has denied all allegations and entered not-guilty pleas to the charges. Additional rape charges were filed earlier this year, which he also denied. The case remains before the courts, and no conviction has been recorded.
Canadian immigration guidelines indicate that individuals who have committed or been convicted of certain crimes may be deemed inadmissible to the country, although immigration decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
Despite the setback, Ghana will continue its World Cup journey after the Panama match with a highly anticipated encounter against England national football team at Gillette Stadium on June 23. The Black Stars will then conclude their group-stage campaign against Croatia national football team at Lincoln Financial Field on June 27.
Ghana will now be hoping to overcome the absence of one of their most influential players as they begin their quest for success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
