2026 World Cup: FIFA confirms Thomas Partey's Visa denial

Former Arsenal player, Thomas Partey has been ruled out of Ghana's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama after the Canadian government denied his visa application.

The news was confirmed by the world football governing body FIFA on Friday, June 12, 2026. As a result, the midfielder will be unable to travel from Ghana's training base in Boston to Toronto for the Group L opener.

What did FIFA say about Thomas Partey?

FIFA confirmed that visa and immigration decisions are the sole responsibility of host governments and are outside the governing body's control.

"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 is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country."

The 32-year-old remains eligible for Ghana's other group-stage matches in the United States, including fixtures against England and Croatia.

Reports are indicating that the visa refusal is linked to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where Partey has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. Canadian authorities have not publicly commented on the specific reason for the decision.

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