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Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, will miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama after Canadian authorities denied him a visa, FIFA said on Friday.
The Villarreal midfielder, who previously played for Arsenal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.
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A trial has been set for next year, allowing the 32-year-old to represent Ghana at the World Cup, but he will not be involved in Wednesday’s match in Toronto.
“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” world football’s governing body said.
FIFA said it was “not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas”.
“As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country,” it added.
Canadian immigration chiefs said it was not possible to provide details on individual cases, adding that the safety of citizens was its priority.
“That is why IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada) applies its rules consistently and without exception, regardless of nationality, profile, or role in the tournament,” said a statement from the IRCC.
“IRCC officers are trained decision-makers who assess an individual’s eligibility and admissibility in accordance with Canadian immigration laws.
“If they believe that an individual could pose a security risk, they may decide to deny them entry.” It is understood that Partey will be eligible to play in Ghana’s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, which will both take place in the United States.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for £45 million ($60 million).
He left the London club in June 2025 after making 167 appearances and has won more than 50 caps for Ghana.
Korea Replublic defeat Czechia | 01:26
TICKET PRICES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
On the eve of the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino responded to backlash about ticket prices by making a grand statement.
“Until today, we have sold over six million tickets,” Infantino said at his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. “The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more.”Infantino’s words were put to the test on the opening day of the tournament with South Korea meeting Czechia in Guadalajara.
The first match between two non-hosting nations exposed the ticketing issue, which received widespread backlash in the lead-up to the tournament, with thousands of empty seats visible at the Estadio Akron.
Unsurprisingly, the sea of red seats was largely in the lower section closer to the pitch.
A seat in the lower tier cost fans US$500 ($710), while the corporate section was also barren – where supporters would have to stump up US$5,000 ($7,098) to be a VIP.
Eyebrows were raised, however, when during the enthralling second half – South Korea came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 – FIFA announced the official attendance was 44,985.
The Akron has an official’s capacity for the tournament is 45,664, making it the second-smallest venue in use at the World Cup behind Toronto, but only roughly 700 empty seats did not pass the eye test.
A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic: “Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match. FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data.
“Please note that, during last night’s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.”
The ticketing saga will be a close watch throughout the rest of the tournament.
‘MAYBE ITALY QUALIFY’: FIFA BOSS’ SHOT AT AZZURRI
FIFA president Gianni Infantino joked that struggling Italy might manage to qualify for the World Cup if the competition was expanded from 48 to 64 teams in 2030.
Four-time world champions Italy failed to qualify for Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and now North America 2026, the first edition to feature 48 teams.
“We have had discussions about expanding to 64 teams … the matter was presented to the FIFA council,” Infantino told Brazilian digital broadcaster CazeTV on Thursday before the World Cup opener, which Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa.
“Maybe Italy qualify with 64 teams, or we could even go up to 208 teams,” he added with a laugh in a brief interview as he entered Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.
South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay is promoting a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams to mark the centenary of the tournament’s first edition, Uruguay 1930.
Part of the event will be held in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina as a nod to the tournament’s history, but the main host nations will be Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
“We first have to see how this first World Cup with 48 teams goes,” Infantino said.
Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi was widely quoted by media as saying that he wanted to speak to Infantino as he was left “perplexed” by his comments.
“Given that there is a big distance between Italy and Mexico, I’d rather speak to him on the telephone to understand (what he meant),” said Abodi.
“I’d like to hear from him directly.”
‘A LITTLE BIT WRONG’: ENGLAND STAR’S REVEAL
Jude Bellingham says every member of England’s World Cup squad must feel “loved” as he admitted things were not right off the pitch at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s men reached the final of the tournament in Germany, where they were beaten by Spain, but were unconvincing during their run.
Southgate’s successor, Thomas Tuchel, has spoken of creating a “brotherhood” in the squad as he tries to win England’s first World Cup since 1966.
Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham told England’s Lions’ Den show that things were “a little bit wrong off the pitch” at the Euros two years ago.
“I don’t feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons,” he said.
Bellingham suggested heightened expectations were a factor after strong performances in previous tournaments.
“We were seen as one of the two or three teams that should win it,” said the 22-year-old.
“We weren’t playing particularly well, which doesn’t help. So even when we were winning it felt like you don’t get the feeling that we were as happy as we should be.
“Because there has to be that element of relentlessness and you want to win. But the nature of football and especially at this level is that wins go out the system very quickly and I think we should have held on to that moment a little bit more.
“And I think this time around having those experiences, knowing that for example the guy who scores the goal in the World Cup final isn’t always the one that you’d bet your house on.
“So everyone’s got to be ready, everyone’s got to feel loved, everyone’s got to feel like they’re playing a huge part of the team.” England launch their bid for World Cup glory against Croatia next Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, who could be competing with Bellingham for the number 10 position, underlined the unity in the squad in the United States.
“We’re really together, we’re really aligned and it’s just really easy and seamless just to fit in with anyone in the group from wherever you’re from, wherever you play, ages, that doesn’t matter with our group,” said the 23-year-old.
“We sit on one big table and we can have one big debate and everyone can get involved. That’s kind of how it is and it’s a joy to be here.”
PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL DENIED ENTRY
The president of the Palestinian Football Association told AFP on Friday that he had been refused an entry visa for the United States and Canada to attend World Cup events.
Jibril Rajoub said he had however been able to enter Mexico to attend the World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City on Thursday, held before Mexico beat South Africa.
“They did not grant me a visa for the United States after I applied in (the Jordanian capital) Amman. Their behaviour is ridiculous,” Rajoub said in a telephone interview with AFP.
“I am currently in Mexico. I will attend Tunisia’s match (in Monterrey against Sweden on June 14), and then I will return” to the Palestinian territories, he added.
Rajoub told AFP that he had also failed to obtain a visa for Canada, which is co-hosting the World Cup.
“Certain circles do not want us to criticise Israel,” he said, claiming without providing evidence that “the Israelis had exerted pressure.” In April, Rajoub took part in the FIFA Congress in Vancouver — but refused an invitation from FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to participate in a group photo with an official from the Israeli Football Association.
The Palestinian Football Association has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against FIFA’s decision not to impose sanctions on Israel over the participation of clubs located in the occupied West Bank in competitions supervised by the Israeli Football Association.
The Palestinian Football Association has long argued that clubs established in West Bank settlements should not take part in competitions organised by the Israeli Football Association.
US President Donald Trump’s immigration policy has created problems for nationals from certain countries seeking entry to the United States.
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry despite having a valid US visa. US authorities have also refused visas to some members of the Iran team’s support staff as well as Senegalese and Ivorian supporters.
