Another player, Thomas Partey, has been refused entry to the 2026 FIFA World Cup by the co-hosts, preventing him from playing in Ghana’s opener against Panama in Toronto. Partey, a Ghanaian midfielder and former Arsenal player, was denied a visa to enter Canada without a disclosed reason, leading to his absence from the crucial match.
Although the specific cause for the visa denial was not revealed, reports suggest that Partey is currently facing trial in London on charges of rape. Despite this setback, Ghana’s team, including Partey, is already in the United States preparing for their upcoming match against England in Boston, where Partey remains available for selection.
FIFA confirmed Partey’s inability to join the team in Canada due to the visa refusal by the Canadian government. Alongside Partey, other individuals like Somali referee Omar Artan and players from Iraq, Haiti, and Switzerland have encountered visa issues ahead of the World Cup, with Artan being denied entry to the United States.
Dutch football icon Ruud Gullit recently urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down amidst the controversies surrounding U.S. immigration policies just before the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Various incidents involving teams and officials facing visa problems have emerged, including Iran’s team relocating its training camp to Mexico and staff members being denied entry to the U.S.
