A Canadian Federal Court has dismissed an urgent motion filed by Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey, effectively upholding the refusal of his application to enter Canada ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision, delivered on June 16, 2026 by Justice Roger R. Lafrenière in Ottawa, followed Partey’s attempt to challenge a ruling by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that denied him a Temporary Resident Visa.
Partey had sought an expedited order compelling Canadian authorities to either grant him entry or reconsider his application quickly, arguing that he needed to join Ghana’s squad for their World Cup fixture against Panama in Toronto.
The court, however, declined the request, stating that it could not bypass established immigration processes or grant relief that would, in effect, substitute for a visa decision through an interlocutory motion. It further noted that doing so would undermine procedural fairness by depriving immigration authorities of the opportunity to properly respond and complete required steps in the process.
Documents presented to the court showed that Partey, who applied for a visa on May 21, 2026 under a FIFA-related invitation, was refused entry on June 10. The refusal was based on inadmissibility concerns under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, with officials pointing to ongoing criminal charges in the United Kingdom that could amount to indictable offences under Canadian law if proven.
Immigration authorities also cited inconsistencies in his application, including declarations in which he indicated he had not been arrested or charged, followed later by submissions confirming he was facing multiple charges. Additional documentation, including police records from the UK, had been requested during the review process.
In his application to the court, Partey’s legal team argued that the refusal was disproportionate and urged either humanitarian consideration or temporary entry clearance to allow him to fulfil sporting commitments with Ghana at the tournament.
Justice Lafrenière ruled that the threshold for granting such exceptional relief had not been met. The court held that immigration officers were entitled to rely on reasonable grounds when assessing inadmissibility and that there was no sufficiently strong case to justify intervention at this stage.
It further found that Partey had not demonstrated irreparable harm, noting that the situation largely stemmed from the underlying allegations rather than the visa decision alone. On the balance of convenience, the court concluded that Canada’s interest in enforcing its immigration laws outweighed the request for expedited access.
The ruling leaves Partey without a clear path to enter Canada for now, unless a separate administrative review or further legal action succeeds. His participation in Ghana’s World Cup matches on Canadian soil remains uncertain.
Ghana opens its World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17, 2026.