Ghana’s World Cup campaign hit a legal and diplomatic roadblock before a single ball was kicked in Toronto. Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal midfielder now with Villarreal, has been denied entry into Canada, meaning he will miss Ghana’s tournament opener against Panama on Wednesday. The decision has sparked a sharp rebuke from Ghana’s sports minister, Kofi Adams, who called the grounds for the denial “flimsy” and demanded an immediate review.
Partey, 33, faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in London. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains on bail. The Metropolitan Police investigation is ongoing, and no trial date has been set — though a judge recently warned it could slip to next year. Despite being allowed to enter the United States (Ghana’s base camp is in Boston), Canadian immigration authorities blocked his visa, citing the pending criminal charges.
What Ghana Is Saying
Adams did not hold back. Speaking to Channel One TV on Friday, he argued that a charge is not a conviction and that Canada is overreaching. “Even in the country where they claim he committed the act, he is still living there as a free citizen, walking about freely,” Adams said. “Canada — which is so far away — will now apply rules to the extent where somebody has merely been charged. This is absolutely wrong.”
The minister added that the government has formally requested a review through diplomatic channels, insisting the denial violates international norms both Ghana and Canada have signed onto. “If any Ghanaian is touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it,” he said.
Canada’s Position
Canada’s immigration website notes that individuals who have “committed or been convicted of a crime” may be denied entry, but Partey has not been convicted of anything. Still, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released a statement defending the decision, saying “every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.” The statement also stressed that hosting the 2026 World Cup does not override its immigration laws.
FIFA, for its part, made clear the decision lies entirely with the host country. “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries,” the governing body said in a statement, adding that the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa.
What This Means for Ghana
Partey will remain in Boston and is eligible to play in Ghana’s other group-stage matches — against England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27, both on U.S. soil. But missing the opener in Toronto is a significant blow for a team that was hoping to lean on his experience in midfield. Ghana’s coaching staff will now have to adjust their game plan without one of their most tenured players for the opening fixture.
For Partey, the visa denial adds another layer of personal and professional uncertainty. He was granted a U.S. visa before the tournament, but Canadian authorities took a harder line. With his trial looming and the legal process still unfolding, the midfielder’s immediate future — both on and off the pitch — remains in limbo.
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