Ghana’s Ministry of Sports and Recreation has called on FIFA to intervene following the denial of entry into Canada for Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the country’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The development means the 33-year-old will be unavailable for Ghana’s Group L opener against Panama at Toronto’s BMO Field on June 17, dealing a significant blow to the Black Stars’ preparations for the tournament.
In a statement, the Ministry expressed concern over the situation and urged FIFA to take a more proactive role in ensuring that all qualified nations have full access to their accredited players and officials throughout the competition.
“We therefore call on FIFA to take a more active interest in this matter and to engage host nations on safeguards that protect the rights of accredited players, officials and Member Associations,” the statement said.
The Ministry further stressed that FIFA’s commitment to fairness should extend beyond events on the pitch.
“FIFA’s commitment to fairness must extend beyond the field of play to ensure that all qualified teams have access to their eligible players. As football’s global governing body, FIFA must continue to champion principles that uphold competitive integrity, equal participation and fair representation throughout its competitions.”
“The integrity of the tournament depends not only on what happens on the pitch, but also on ensuring that the rules and principles governing participation are applied consistently and fairly.”
Partey was included in Ghana’s World Cup squad and travelled with the team to the United States earlier this month. He arrived in Washington, D.C., alongside his teammates on June 4 before the squad moved to its training base in Rhode Island.
However, despite being part of the travelling contingent, the former Arsenal midfielder has been unable to gain entry into Canada and will consequently miss the crucial encounter against Panama.
The midfielder remains eligible for Ghana’s remaining group-stage fixtures, both of which will be played in the United States. The Black Stars are scheduled to face England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27.
Partey’s absence comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. In July 2025, he was charged by London’s Metropolitan Police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in September 2025.
He was later charged with two additional counts of rape in February 2026 and again entered not guilty pleas when he appeared before the court in April.
The allegations involve four women and relate to incidents alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022. Police investigations began following an allegation of rape reported in February 2022, while a separate investigation was launched after additional reports were made in August 2025.
The case is expected to be heard at Southwark Crown Court in London. Although the trial was initially scheduled to begin in November, reports suggest it could now be postponed until early 2027.
As part of his bail conditions, Partey is required to notify authorities of any plans to travel outside the United Kingdom.
