Thomas Partey won't play in Ghana's World Cup opener against Panama on 17 June. Canadian authorities denied the 33-year-old midfielder entry into the country, leaving the Black Stars without one of their key players for the Group L match at Toronto's BMO Field.
The Ghana Ministry of Sports and Recreation has now called on FIFA to intervene. In a statement released today, the Ministry urged football's world governing body to "take a more active interest" in protecting the rights of participating nations and ensuring all qualified teams can access their eligible players.
"We therefore call on FIFA to take a more active interest in this matter and to engage host nations on safeguards that protect the rights of accredited players, officials and Member Associations," the Ministry said.
Partey travelled with the squad to the United States on 4 June and trained with his teammates in Rhode Island. But he can't cross into Canada for the Panama match. He remains eligible for Ghana's other group games, both in the US: against England on 23 June at Gillette Stadium in Boston, and against Croatia on 27 June at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The reason for Canada's decision isn't officially stated, but Partey's legal situation is well known. In July 2025, London's Metropolitan Police charged him with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty in September 2025. Then in February 2026, he was charged with two additional counts of rape, to which he also pleaded not guilty in April.
The charges involve four women and relate to incidents alleged to have happened between 2020 and 2022. Police began investigating after receiving a rape allegation in February 2022, and launched a separate probe following reports in August 2025. The case is set for trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, originally scheduled for November 2026 but possibly delayed to early 2027.
As part of his bail conditions, Partey must inform authorities of any plans to travel abroad. It's unclear whether he did so before flying to the US, or whether Canadian officials made their own decision based on the charges.
The Ministry's statement stressed that the World Cup is "a celebration of global unity through sport" and that all participating nations deserve a fair chance to compete with their full squads. "FIFA's commitment to fairness must extend beyond the field of play," the statement added.
For Ghana, missing Partey is a major blow. The Arsenal midfielder has been a cornerstone of the Black Stars for years, known for his composure on the ball and ability to control the tempo of a game. Without him, coach Otto Addo will have to reshuffle his midfield for the crucial opener against Panama.
The bigger question now is whether FIFA will take any action. The governing body hasn't yet responded to Ghana's call. If other players face similar visa issues, the tournament's integrity could be questioned. But for now, Ghana must focus on beating Panama without one of its biggest stars.