FIFA host controversy continues as Thomas Partey loses Canada visa appeal

Canada has successfully defended its decision to deny Thomas Partey entry into the country, with a court dismissing the Ghana midfielder's emergency appeal just hours before the Black Stars' opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The ruling means Partey will miss Ghana's Group L opener against Panama in Toronto, despite an intensive diplomatic and legal effort by the Ghanaian government to overturn the decision.

The case has also intensified debate over visa and immigration issues at the expanded World Cup, with Partey becoming the latest high-profile figure affected by host nation entry restrictions during the tournament.

Canadian immigration authorities refused the Black Stars midfielder a Temporary Resident Visa because of the ongoing criminal proceedings against him in the United Kingdom, where he has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women.

During Tuesday's emergency hearing in Ottawa, lawyers representing the Canadian government argued that Partey should not receive preferential treatment because of his status as a professional footballer.

They maintained that Canadian immigration law does not require a criminal conviction before authorities can refuse entry and insisted the law must be applied equally to all foreign nationals.

Government lawyers also argued that information relating to the criminal charges had not been fully disclosed during Partey's visa application and rejected claims that refusing him entry would cause irreparable harm.

Partey's legal team countered by citing previous cases in which artists, actors and other public figures were granted Temporary Resident Permits despite legal or immigration issues. They also argued that the midfielder's absence would significantly affect Ghana's World Cup campaign and urged the court to issue an expedited ruling.

The judge ultimately sided with Canada's immigration authorities, ending Ghana's legal challenge.

The decision follows days of diplomatic engagement led by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who described the visa refusal as unfair and sought a resolution with Canadian officials before the opening match.

Partey remained in the United States after the rest of the Black Stars squad travelled to Toronto on Monday.

While the ruling rules him out of the Panama fixture, the midfielder remains eligible to play in Ghana's remaining Group L matches against England and Croatia in the United States, where he has already been granted entry.

The decision is likely to fuel further scrutiny of visa policies during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after several participants encountered immigration-related challenges in the lead-up to the tournament.