Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey has suffered a setback in his efforts to join Ghana’s squad in Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a Canadian Federal Court dismissed an urgent application challenging the refusal of his visa.
In a ruling delivered on June 16, 2026, Justice Roger R. Lafrenière rejected Partey’s request for expedited court intervention following a decision by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to deny him a Temporary Resident Visa.
Partey had asked the court to either fast-track his application or direct Canadian immigration authorities to urgently reconsider the decision, arguing that he needed clearance to travel and join the Black Stars ahead of Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto.
However, the court ruled that it could not sidestep established immigration procedures or effectively grant a visa through an interim application.
According to the judgment, granting the relief sought by the Ghanaian midfielder would have denied the government sufficient opportunity to respond and would have bypassed important legal requirements, including the filing of complete records and the formal process for seeking judicial review.
Partey, who applied for the visa on May 21, 2026, under a FIFA invitation to join Ghana’s World Cup delegation, was denied entry on June 10 after Canadian immigration officials determined that he was inadmissible under the country’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Authorities cited serious criminal charges currently pending against the player in the United Kingdom, noting that if proven, the alleged offences would be considered indictable crimes under Canadian law.
Court records also indicated that immigration officials had raised concerns about inconsistencies in Partey’s application and requested additional information, including police records from the UK.
The ruling further noted that Partey initially answered “no” to questions about whether he had ever been arrested or charged, but later submitted documents showing that he was facing multiple criminal charges.
His legal team argued that the visa refusal was unfair and urged the court to allow him entry on humanitarian or temporary grounds so he could fulfil his national team obligations. They also sought expedited consideration of a request for reconsideration or a temporary resident permit.
The court, however, held that immigration inadmissibility decisions must follow due process and cannot be set aside simply to accommodate short-term sporting commitments.
Justice Lafrenière also found that Partey had failed to establish a serious issue for trial, stating that immigration officers were entitled to rely on reasonable grounds when assessing admissibility, even where no conviction had been secured.
The court further concluded that Partey had not demonstrated irreparable harm, observing that the difficulties he faced arose primarily from the criminal allegations themselves rather than the visa refusal.
On the balance of convenience, the judge ruled that Canada’s interest in enforcing its immigration laws outweighed the request for exceptional treatment.
The decision leaves Partey’s participation in Ghana’s World Cup matches in Canada uncertain unless another legal or administrative avenue succeeds.
Ghana opens its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama today, June 17.
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Read the full ruling below:
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