Black Stars rocked: Thomas Partey ruled out of World Cup opener in immigration twist

Ghana have been dealt a major blow ahead of their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Thomas Partey was ruled out of the clash against Panama because of an immigration issue.

The experienced midfielder will miss Wednesday's Group L encounter in Toronto after the Canadian government refused his visa application, preventing him from travelling from Ghana's team base in Boston.

FIFA confirmed the development in a statement, saying the governing body has no role in the immigration decisions of host countries and that the final decision rests with the relevant government authorities.

Partey's absence is a significant setback for coach Carlos Queiroz, who will be without one of the Black Stars' captains for a fixture expected to play a key role in determining Ghana's chances of reaching the knockout stage.

While Ghana's tactical approach is not built solely around the 32-year-old, Partey was expected to provide leadership, experience and stability in midfield against Panama.

The visa setback now leaves Queiroz with a selection dilemma, with youngster Caleb Yirenkyi among the players who could be handed an opportunity to fill the void after impressing during the team's pre-World Cup preparations.

Neither FIFA nor the Canadian government has disclosed the reason for the visa refusal. However, Partey is currently standing trial in the United Kingdom after being charged with multiple counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He has denied all the charges through his legal representatives, and the case remains before the courts.

Despite missing the Panama fixture, Partey remains eligible for Ghana's remaining Group L matches against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia, with both games taking place in the United States.

The Black Stars open their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 before facing England and Croatia as they target a place in the knockout stage for the first time since the 2010 tournament.