Ghana star Partey denied entry to Canada due to pending sexual assault charges
Thomas Partey, Ghana's midfield star, was denied a Canadian visa after being charged with sexual assault in the UK. He will remain in the US during the World Cup group stage.
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Ghanaian football star Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada for the World Cup because of sexual assault allegations in the United Kingdom. The Canadian visa was rejected last week due to charges and an upcoming trial in Britain involving multiple rape cases. Ghana's football association challenged the decision in court, but the appeal was unsuccessful.
As a result, Partey will stay in the United States, where Ghana's national team has set up its training base for the tournament. The team's first Group L match against Panama is scheduled for Thursday at 2 a.m. in Toronto, but Partey will miss it. The remaining two group matches against England in Foxborough and Croatia in Philadelphia will be played on U.S. soil, allowing him to participate.
Partey, 33, played for London's Arsenal from 2020 to 2025. During that time, several women accused him of sexual offenses and rape. The footballer denies all charges. Last season, he played for Spanish club Villarreal, making 32 appearances across all competitions. Before that, he represented Real Madrid from 2013 to 2020.
Since his debut for Ghana in 2016, Partey has earned 58 caps and scored 16 goals.
