Thomas Partey to miss Ghana's World Cup opener after Canada appeal rejected

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's opening match of the 2026 World Cup after a Canadian court dismissed his appeal against a decision barring him from entering the country.

The 33-year-old had sought to overturn a ruling by immigration authorities that found him inadmissible to Canada ahead of Ghana's Group D meeting with Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.

Partey, who plays for Villarreal and formerly represented Arsenal, was charged by London's Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and later entered not guilty pleas to two additional rape charges brought in February 2026.

Canadian authorities denied Partey's application for a temporary resident permit after determining he was inadmissible because of the criminal charges he faces in the United Kingdom.

Court documents submitted during the appeal showed that Partey's visa application indicated he had never been charged with a criminal offence in any country. Immigration officials subsequently raised concerns about possible misrepresentation and requested further information.

Lawyers acting for Partey argued that he had not been afforded sufficient due process and said missing the tournament opener would cause significant professional and reputational harm.

However, the Federal Court dismissed the appeal on Tuesday.

In its ruling, the court said the fact Partey had not been convicted of any offence was not relevant to the immigration assessment conducted by Canadian officials.

In a statement, Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship department said: "Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada's immigration laws.

"Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies, while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians as a top priority."

Speaking before the appeal decision was announced, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz declined to comment on the case.

"My business is to play with the cards that are in front of me," he said. "We

are waiting for a decision. When the decision comes, we are ready."

Partey has been granted entry to the United States, where Ghana are based, and remains available for their remaining group-stage matches against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.

He is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in June 2027.