Ghana's Partey loses bid to enter Canada for the World Cup

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing a rape trial in Britain, lost a court challenge on Tuesday that could have allowed him to enter Canada for his side’s World Cup opener in Toronto.

Ottawa denied the Villarreal player a visa because of the British charges, preventing him from playing for Ghana against Panama on Wednesday.

Accra filed an injunction request in federal court on Tuesday seeking to overturn Ottawa’s decision.

According to broadcaster CBC, Judge Roger Lafreniere dismissed the challenge.

Shortly before the decision was announced, Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz told reporters in Toronto that his team would be ready, regardless of the court’s outcome.

“My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” Queiroz said. “When the decision comes, we are ready.”

Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen, who was also asked about Partey’s possible exclusion, said he believed Ghana would remain a strong competitor even if the former Arsenal player was not on the pitch.

“They have a lot of other footballers who can take on his role,” he said in Spanish. “Ghana would not be weaker because Partey was absent.” He added, “They have a lot more experience than we have.”

Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa called Canada’s decision “high‑handed and extremely unfair,” describing Partey as “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team.”

Accra has sent an official “note of protest” to Ottawa over the move and formally asked Canada to review the decision, Ablakwa said.

Canada’s foreign ministry told AFP that it “maintains regular diplomatic engagement with Ghana, including on consular and migration‑related issues when they arise.” The ministry declined to comment on discussions with Ghana about Partey’s exclusion and said decisions on entering the country are made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

IRCC stated that “Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws.” “Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies,” it added in a statement.

Partey faces seven rape charges and one sexual assault charge in Britain, related to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He denies the allegations.

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