Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian midfielder, will miss the World Cup opener against Panama next week because he was denied entry into Canada.
Canadian authorities refused his visa application; Partey, 32, is currently awaiting trial in England on multiple rape and sexual assault charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Ghana’s Group L opener is scheduled for Wednesday against Panama in Toronto.
FIFA confirmed on Friday that Partey will be unable to cross the Canadian border with the Ghanaian squad, whose World Cup base camp is located in Providence, Rhode Island.
“We confirm that Thomas Partey, of the Ghanaian national team, cannot travel from the team’s base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for the opening match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, because his visa application was denied by the Canadian government,” the statement obtained by The Athletic said.
FIFA states it does not take part in host country immigration processes or visa adjudication, and that the host government ultimately decides who is granted a visa and admitted into the country.
Partey, currently playing for Villarreal in Spain, has recorded 16 goals in 58 appearances for Ghana, including three goals in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
He is expected to return to Ghana for the group‑stage matches in the United States: a game against England on 23 June in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and a match against Croatia on 27 June in Philadelphia.