Ghanaian officials on Tuesday appealed Canada’s decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey entry to the country for the team’s first World Cup match as he awaits trial on rape charges.
A Canadian federal court heard the appeal on Tuesday, just one day before Ghana faces Panama in Toronto.
Ghana’s Foreign Ministry had criticized the visa refusal for Partey, who is awaiting trial in Britain, as an «idiosyncratic and deeply unfair decision».
Partey is facing allegations from several women from his time playing for English club Arsenal between 2020 and 2025. Partey, who played for Villarreal in Spain last season, has pleaded not guilty.
In March, a lawyer for Partey said the player plans to plead not guilty to two new charges of rape after a woman alleged Partey raped her twice on the same day in December 2020. Partey had separately been awaiting trial on five charges of rape linked to two other women and one charge of sexual assault involving another woman, and the new charges arose after the first set of charges were made public.
Partey’s lawyer, Mackeda Bramwell, told the court Tuesday that Canada, as the host country of the World Cup, has a «public interest» in allowing the «orderly participation of accredited national team athletes.»
In a statement submitted to the court, Partey said he would remain under constant supervision by team officials and will leave Canada if the team does so.
Millions of his compatriots hope the team will advance to the knockout round, he said.
«I have not been convicted of any crime. I have pleaded not guilty and I remain presumed innocent,» Partey said.
Canadian officials have said decisions on immigration will be made on a case-by-case basis, regardless of the World Cup.
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz had cited a presumption of innocence for Partey when he included the player in his World Cup squad.
Ghana’s base camp for the World Cup is in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Even if Tuesday’s appeal fails, Partey will still be eligible to play on June 23 when Ghana face England in Massachusetts. Ghana closes group play against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
Published on June 17, 2026
