A Ghana midfielder has been denied entry to Canada ahead of his team’s World Cup opener after Canadian authorities refused his visa application, according to FIFA.
Thomas Partey is currently facing rape charges in the United Kingdom, which he denies.
Partey is currently at Ghana’s Team Base Camp in Boston.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. While teams travel between the three countries for matches, players must still individually conform to the separate immigration requirements of each host country.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has defended its decision, which Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticized in statements to media.
“IRCC officers are trained decision-makers who assess an individual’s eligibility and admissibility in accordance with Canadian immigration laws,” the department said. “If they believe that an individual could pose a security risk, they may decide to deny them entry.”
Ghana said the decision of the Canadian immigration officials is “extremely unfair,” stressing that Partey should be presumed innocent before his trial. Ghana’s government said it’s pursuing legal action over the visa denial.
Partey’s entry denial comes amid other immigration-related issues in connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States and was subsequently unable to officiate at the tournament. FIFA said the decision rested with U.S. authorities, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was deemed inadmissible following additional vetting.
Amid the Iran war, the country’s national team is also facing restrictions on entering the United States, with U.S. officials saying the team can enter only one day before its matches.
