Arjun Menon
Ghana has formally condemned Canada’s refusal to grant Thomas Partey entry into the country for the 2026 World Cup, calling it an “extremely unfair decision” that contradicts foundational principles of common law. The Black Stars midfielder, who departed Arsenal as a free agent last summer and signed with Spanish side Villarreal, had been training with the squad at their base in Boston ahead of their opening group fixture.
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Ghana’s first group-stage match is scheduled in Toronto against Panama, but Partey looks set to miss it entirely. FIFA confirmed on Friday that he holds a valid US visa and will remain at the team’s Boston camp, unable to cross into Canada for the fixture.
The reason for the denial traces back to criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. London’s Metropolitan Police charged Partey with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault last July. In February, the 32-year-old faced two additional rape charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts and is awaiting trial. Canadian immigration authorities cited inadmissibility under paragraph A36(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a provision triggered by the pending criminal proceedings rather than any conviction.
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Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a direct rebuttal:
“The Government of the Republic of Ghana expresses strong reservations following the high-handed and extremely unfair decision by Canada to refuse a temporary residence application for Mr. Thomas Teye Partey, a Ghanaian national and key member of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, which is participating in the 2026 World Cup. The decision is understood to be based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have not resulted in any conviction or judicial finding of guilt. The Government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and due process in democratic societies.”
The statement acknowledged Canada’s sovereign right to enforce its own immigration laws while arguing that applying those laws to unproven charges, absent any judicial determination of guilt, raises questions of proportionality. Ghana confirmed it is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Canadian authorities and may seek a judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada to overturn the ban.
Ghana’s remaining group fixtures are against England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. Both matches fall within the United States, meaning Partey could still feature if he remains at the Boston base.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz made his position clear before the tournament:
“If the player is here with me, my answer is clear. I don’t have any comments about my own decisions. He is here so what are we talking about? This is not for me or you to make a judgement about. Let the events run their normal course; let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we are going to find the truth.”
The situation puts one of Ghana’s most experienced players at the center of a diplomatic dispute during the biggest football tournament on the planet. Whether Canadian authorities respond to Accra’s pressure before the Panama fixture remains to be seen. Follow TipsGG for ongoing coverage of every development surrounding Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign.