Ghana’s government has initiated legal proceedings against Canada over its decision to deny visa approval to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey, a development that could affect his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to BBC Sport, Ghana has filed for a judicial review of the decision, with a hearing scheduled in Ottawa. The move is aimed at securing permission for Partey to enter Canada in time for Ghana’s opening Group L match against Panama in Toronto.
The dispute escalated after FIFA confirmed that the former Arsenal midfielder would be unable to travel from the team’s training base in the United States following the visa refusal by Canadian authorities. Ghanaian officials have described the decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair.”
The government is now seeking a temporary arrangement that would allow Partey to enter Canada solely for the tournament fixture, while also requesting permission for him to submit a fresh visa application. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said diplomatic efforts are ongoing alongside the court case in an attempt to resolve the matter before Ghana’s World Cup campaign begins.
Partey’s visa issues are linked to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where he has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022. He is scheduled to stand trial next year.
Canadian immigration authorities, however, have maintained that hosting the World Cup does not exempt applicants from standard entry requirements. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that “every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.”
The controversy has become one of the most discussed off-field issues ahead of the tournament, raising broader concerns about immigration procedures for participating players.
Partey, who now plays for Villarreal, has earned more than 50 caps for Ghana since his debut in 2016 and featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana, will face England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia four days later, with the possibility of returning to Canada in the knockout stages should they progress from the group.
