World Cup 2026: Ghana to challenge Canada visa ban on Thomas Partey ahead of opener against Panama

Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has confirmed that government has engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities to challenge Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey entry ahead of the Black Stars’ opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Partey, 32, who was expected to feature in the game, is now expected to miss Ghana’s opening game against Panama on June 17 in Toronto.

This comes after the Canadian authorities denied the former Arsenal midfielder a visa. 

FIFA has since confirmed that Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base in the United States to Canada for the fixture, noting that immigration decisions fall solely within the jurisdiction of host governments and are beyond its control.

Speaking in an interview with Citi FM, Mr Adams said government had already begun diplomatic efforts to seek a review of the decision.

“As has been indicated by His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, and the mandate through his Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that any Ghanaian touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it. Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting them to review the decision. I hope and pray that they do what they must do, and do it right,” he said.

Adams argued that the decision was inconsistent with international conventions to which both Ghana and Canada are signatories and expressed hope that Canadian authorities would reconsider the matter.

He also described the reasons for the visa refusal as “flimsy,” stressing that Partey has been charged in a legal case but has not been convicted.

“We got a decision that he had been denied entry to Canada on very flimsy reasons. I say flimsy because the person had already been charged. He has not been found guilty,” Adams said.

He further noted that Partey continues to live and work freely in the country where the alleged offence is said to have occurred, questioning why Canada would take a different stance.

“One is therefore surprised that Canada, which is so far away, will now apply rules to the extent that where somebody has just been merely charged, that person has been deemed guilty,” he added.

After the opener against Panama, Partey will be eligible to feature against England and Croatia on June 23 and 27, respectively.