The Government of Ghana has reportedly failed in its efforts to secure the entry of Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey into Canada for the country’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a Canadian federal court dismissed an appeal challenging the denial of his visa application.
The development comes despite diplomatic interventions led by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who had earlier disclosed that the government was engaging Canadian authorities to find a solution ahead of Ghana’s Group L opener against Panama on Wednesday, June 17. Ghana’s position, according to the minister, was that Partey had not been convicted of any offence and should therefore be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to reports by The New York Times and The Athletic, Partey’s lawyer, Hadley Bramwell, argued before the court that the midfielder would suffer “serious and largely irremediable prejudice” if denied entry into Canada, including losing the opportunity to represent Ghana at the World Cup and suffering reputational harm arising from untested allegations.
Bramwell further argued that the Ghanaian midfielder had been denied due process and suffered “irreversible prejudice” because the decision on his visa application was reportedly taken two days before Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) original June 12 deadline.
Court documents reportedly included a June 4 letter from Partey’s UK legal representatives, attaching a police records certificate and court indictment detailing the charges against him while confirming that he had pleaded not guilty. The letter further stated that he is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in June next year.
In an affidavit reportedly affirmed on June 14, Partey argued that his absence would “materially affect Ghana’s ability to field its selected squad.”
However, the federal court reportedly ruled that the fact that the midfielder has not been convicted of the offences he is accused of was “irrelevant” to the analysis conducted by immigration officials.
In response to the verdict, the IRCC reportedly maintained that “hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws.”
The latest development is expected to be a major setback for the Black Stars, who will now likely begin their World Cup campaign against Panama without one of their most experienced and influential players.
