Ghana’s preparations for their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a setback after midfielder Thomas Partey was reportedly unable to secure permission to enter Canada.
The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Spanish side Villarreal, is expected to miss Ghana’s Group L opener against Panama in Toronto. Reports indicate that Canadian authorities declined his visa application, preventing him from traveling from the team’s training base in the United States to Canada for the fixture.
Partey has been involved in ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom since being charged with multiple sexual offence allegations. The former Arsenal midfielder has denied all charges and entered not-guilty pleas. His case is yet to be concluded in court.
FIFA confirmed that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Canadian government, stressing that immigration decisions are made independently by host nations and not by football’s governing body.
While Partey is unavailable for the Panama clash, he could still feature in Ghana’s remaining group-stage matches, which will be played in the United States. The Black Stars are scheduled to face England before concluding their group campaign against Croatia.
The development leaves Ghana without one of its most experienced players for a crucial opening encounter as the four-time African champions seek a strong start to their World Cup journey.
Partey joined Ghana’s World Cup squad earlier this month and traveled with the team to their North American training camp. However, his inability to enter Canada means head coach Otto Addo may need to adjust his plans ahead of the tournament opener.
Ghana will now turn its attention to Panama, hoping to begin its World Cup campaign positively despite the absence of one of its senior midfield figures.