Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not be available for his country’s FIFA World Cup 2026 clash in Canada after an appeal against the decision to deny him entry was dismissed by the Federal Court.
The former Arsenal midfielder had been hoping to join the Black Stars squad ahead of their Group L fixture against Panama in Toronto, but his visa situation has now ruled him out of the match.
The court documents revealed that Partey’s temporary resident visa application submitted on May 21 did not include details of the criminal charges he currently faces in the United Kingdom.
When asked in the application whether he had ever committed, been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a criminal offence in any country, the answer provided was “No”.
The 33-year-old is facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.
The Ghana international denies all allegations and is scheduled to face trial next year.
Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) raised concerns over the accuracy of the application after reviewing the case.
A letter sent to Partey on May 25 questioned whether his submission had met the requirement to “answer truthfully”.
The immigration authority also warned that he could be considered inadmissible under Canadian immigration laws relating to misrepresentation.
The Federal Court later dismissed Partey’s appeal, stating that his response to the concerns raised by immigration officials did not explain why the information regarding his legal situation was absent from his application.
The ruling noted that documentation relating to the charges was eventually submitted to the IRCC by the Ghana Football Association on May 27, but the court upheld the original decision to refuse entry.
Judge Roger R. Lafreniere explained that Canadian immigration law does not require a conviction before a visa refusal can be issued.
“Paragraph 36(1)(c) of the IRPA (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), as distinct from 36(1)(b), does not require a conviction in order to find the Applicant inadmissible. Rather, simply having reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed is sufficient,” wrote Judge Roger R. Lafreniere.
The decision means Partey will miss Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto, although he remains available for their second group fixture against England in Boston on June 23 after successfully obtaining a United States visa.
Ghana must now begin their tournament without one of their most experienced midfielders as they aim to make progress from a challenging World Cup group.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
