Former Arsenal player and current Black Star Midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied a temporary visa and will miss Ghana’s World Cup opening game.

According to the Ghanaian government, Canadian authorities denied Thomas Partey’s temporary residence application on inadmissibility grounds linked to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK, despite there being no conviction or judicial finding of guilt.

Partey, who was recently charged with sexual assault, is awaiting trial and has not been convicted of any offence.

Image Credit: Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images

In a statement, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the decision as “high-handed” and “extremely unfair,” revealing that it has formally protested the move and is pursuing legal and diplomatic channels to challenge the refusal. “The Government of the Republic of Ghana expresses strong reservations following the high-handed and extremely unfair decision by Canada to refuse a temporary residence application for Mr Thomas Teye Partey, a Ghanaian national and key member of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars, which is participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Accordingly, Ghana is pursuing active diplomatic engagements with the relevant Canadian authorities on this matter.”

The decision means Partey will miss Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto, depriving the Black Stars of one of their most experienced players at a crucial point in the tournament. Ghana’s Black Stars also lost their former coach, Otto Addo, just 72 days before the tournament, following a poor run of results in friendlies. The coach position has now been filled by veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, who has previously managed Portugal, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, Colombia, Japan, and Oman.

The incident has reignited debate around the intersection of immigration policy and international sport. It also comes on the heels of another World Cup-related immigration controversy, after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry into the United States earlier in the tournament, raising broader questions about how host nations handle visa and entry requirements during the competition.