Ghana's Thomas Partey denied Canada visa, to miss World Cup opener

Ghana's Thomas Partey will miss the FIFA World Cup opener against Panama after his visa application to Canada was refused. FIFA confirmed the midfielder cannot travel from the team's base camp in Boston for the match in Toronto.

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey's visa application to enter Canada has been refused, resulting in the footballer now not taking part in his side's FIFA World Cup opener against Panama on Wednesday in Toronto.

FIFA Confirms Visa Refusal

A statement by FIFA to Reuters said, "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," FIFA said in a statement to Reuters. FIFA also said that it is "not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas". The Canadian government has not responded to a query from Reuters yet.

Partey's Future Eligibility and Background

Partey is with the rest of the Ghana team in Boston at their base camp. He is, however, eligible to feature in his side's later Group L matches against England in Foxborough and versus Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. The 32-year-old was previously associated with Arsenal from 2020 to 2025 and is now playing for Villarreal. He also faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom, though he denies the charges. (ANI)

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