Ghana’s Thomas Partey Denied Entry to Canada Ahead of World Cup Opener
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey is set to miss his team’s World Cup opener after being denied entry to Canada, reported as the first known case of a player barred from a host country. Partey faces UK charges he denies; Ghana’s government called the decision "extremely unfair."
G hana midfielder Thomas Partey is set to miss his national team’s opening World Cup match after being denied entry to Canada, according to The Athletic, which first reported the news, and The Hill. Ghana are due to play Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Charges he denies
Partey, who plays club football for Villarreal in Spain, is facing charges in the United Kingdom that include seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to ESPN. There has been no conviction or judicial finding of guilt.
Ghana calls it "extremely unfair"
Ghana’s government described Canada’s ruling as "extremely unfair," saying it was based on pending UK proceedings that "have not resulted in any conviction or judicial finding of guilt." Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said Ghana remained committed to "the rule of law, human rights, and the presumption of innocence," and hoped diplomacy would lead to "an amicable resolution." It is described as the first instance of a national-team player being denied entry to one of the three hosts, the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Wider visa concerns
The case adds to concerns about access to the host countries. Earlier in the week a World Cup referee, reported to be Somalia’s Omar Artan, was denied entry to the United States, with Customs and Border Protection citing "vetting concerns" over an unnamed Somali national. Iran forward Mehdi Taremi told ESPN that U.S. visa steps had created "a lot of tension" around the tournament. Asked about access, President Donald Trump said the U.S. was "working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our country." The tournament kicked off on Thursday; the United States beat Paraguay 4-1 in their opener on Friday.
Reporting: based on The Athletic (first to report), The Hill and ESPN, June 13, 2026.