Canadian court upholds entry refusal for Thomas Partey, Ghana midfielder ‘to miss’ opener

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·17 June 2026

Canadian court upholds entry refusal for Thomas Partey, Ghana midfielder ‘to miss’ opener

Canada’s courts have upheld a decision blocking Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey from entering the country, leaving him likely to miss Thursday’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto, barring a late change.

CBC reports that the entry ban was confirmed on Tuesday. Ghana had contested the decision, but a Federal Court judge dismissed the appeal.

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Partey, 32, formerly of Arsenal and now with Villarreal in Spain, had been due to travel for the match.

He has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, linked to allegations by four women between 2020 and 2022, when he was at Arsenal (2020-2025).

The midfielder is due to stand trial in the United Kingdom in 2027.

Source: L'Équipe