Accra, June 17: Ghana’s national football team has suffered a significant blow ahead of their opening match in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Key midfielder Thomas Partey will not participate in the Group L match against Panama due to a visa dispute. A Canadian court has rejected Partey’s visa appeal.
According to a report by Xinhua, Judge Roger R. Lafrenière delivered the ruling. The court found that the player failed to establish a serious legal basis for his appeal and did not provide sufficient reasons to overturn the immigration authorities’ decision. Consequently, the visa process could not proceed. Lafrenière noted that concerns regarding allegations of rape and sexual assault against the international player were communicated to him, but he was unable to adequately address these concerns during the visa process.
As a result of this decision, Thomas will not be able to enter Canada. This could directly impact his availability for Ghana’s upcoming matches. Relief for Thomas may only come if his case is reconsidered later or if he obtains permission through a temporary resident permit.
Last week, the Canadian government denied Thomas a visa, prompting his lawyers to file a last-minute appeal in federal court in Ottawa, seeking to overturn the decision. FIFA had already confirmed that due to the visa issue, the player would not be available for the team’s first match. Currently, the Ghanaian team is in the United States, preparing for the remaining group matches.
Ghana is set to face Panama on June 17, followed by challenging matches against strong teams like England and Croatia. The absence of Thomas is considered a major setback for the team. Many participants in the FIFA World Cup are grappling with visa issues, and another name has been added to this list. Previously, Somali referee Omar Artan, Iraqi international players Ayman Hussein and Talal Salah, Haitian Woodensky Pierre, and Swiss forward Breel Embolo faced visa-related difficulties for their World Cup travel.
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