Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his team's FIFA World Cup opener against Panama after his visa application to enter Canada was refused, FIFA confirmed on Saturday.
The 32-year-old player, who is currently with the Ghana squad at their base camp in Boston, USA, was scheduled to travel to Toronto for the Group L match on Wednesday, June 17. However, the Canadian government denied his entry, forcing him to remain in the United States.
In a statement to Reuters, FIFA said: 'FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana's Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.'
FIFA also clarified that it is 'not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas.'
The Canadian government has not yet responded to a query from Reuters regarding the refusal.
Despite this setback, Partey remains eligible to play in Ghana's subsequent Group L matches against England in Foxborough and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
Partey, who played for Arsenal from 2020 to 2025 before joining Villarreal, also faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom. He has denied all charges.
Ghana will now have to adjust their plans for the opening match without one of their key midfielders.
