Thomas Partey ruled out of Ghana's World Cup opener after losing Canada appeal

Black Stars deputy captain Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a Canadian court dismissed his emergency appeal against the decision denying him entry into the country.

The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, means the Black Stars will be without one of their most influential players when they face Panama in their Group L opener in Toronto on Wednesday.

Partey challenged the refusal of his Temporary Resident Visa after Canadian immigration authorities deemed him inadmissible because of the ongoing criminal proceedings against him in the United Kingdom.

During the hearing in Ottawa, lawyers representing the Canadian government argued that Partey should not receive special treatment because of his status as a professional footballer. They maintained that Canada's immigration laws apply equally to everyone and that a criminal conviction is not required before authorities can refuse entry into the country.

Government lawyers also argued that information relating to the charges facing the midfielder had not been fully disclosed during the visa application process. They rejected claims that refusing Partey entry would cause irreparable sporting harm, insisting there was no certainty he would even start against Panama.

Partey's legal team countered by citing previous cases in which artists, actors and other public figures had been granted Temporary Resident Permits despite legal or immigration issues. His lawyers also argued that denying him entry would unfairly damage both his reputation and Ghana's World Cup campaign, urging the court to deliver a swift decision because of the urgency of the tournament.

The judge, however, ruled in favour of Canada's immigration authorities, ending Ghana's legal efforts to secure the midfielder's availability for the tournament opener.

The decision comes despite intensive diplomatic engagement by the Ghanaian government. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had described the visa refusal as unfair and held discussions with Canadian officials in a bid to resolve the matter before kickoff.

Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women in the United Kingdom, where his trial is scheduled for 2027.

Although he will miss the Panama encounter, Partey remains eligible to feature in Ghana's remaining Group L matches against England and Croatia in the United States, where he has already been granted entry.