Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been ruled out of the country’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canadian authorities reportedly denied him entry visa.
The development means Partey will miss Ghana’s Group stage opener against Panama, scheduled to be played in Canada on Wednesday, June 17.
The information was first reported by The Athletic and later confirmed by FIFA in an official statement.
According to FIFA, the player will not be able to travel from Ghana’s base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for the match after his visa application was rejected by the Canadian government.
“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will not be able to travel from Ghana’s base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their opening match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, as his visa application has been rejected by the Canadian government,” the statement said.
The setback comes as a major blow to the Ghana national team, which is preparing for its opening fixture against Panama in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Partey, a key figure in Ghana’s midfield, was expected to play a central role in the team’s campaign.
The reasons for the visa denial have not been publicly disclosed by the Canadian authorities or FIFA however earlier reports had linked the denial to Partey’s ongoing rape charges in the UK.
The development is expected to force a tactical reshuffle for the Black Stars ahead of their tournament opener.