Ghanaian player Thomas Partey misses out on national team debut after being denied visa by Canada

Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey, who was indicted by British police on five counts of rape and one of sexual harassment on July 4, 2025.
Hannah McKay/ Reuters
Ghana national team player Thomas Partey will miss the country's World Cup debut because his visa was denied by Canada. The information was confirmed by FIFA this Friday (12) in notes to the Reuters news agency.
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The midfielder, who faces five charges of rape and one of sexual assault, was indicted about a year ago by the UK police. The player, who plays for the national team of Ghana, his country of origin, played for Arsenal until four days before receiving the accusations.
According to the British police, the player raped and sexually harassed three women between 2021 and 2022.
In a statement, the police stated that he was indicted on six charges:
Two for raping a first woman;
Three also for raping a second woman;
and one charge of sexual assault on a third victim.
The charges, the statement says, "are the result of a police investigation that began in February 2022, after the police received the first report of rape." He was even arrested preventively while he was still one of Arsenal's main players.
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Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, states that he "denies all the allegations" and that he welcomes "the opportunity to finally clear his name".
In August 2025, he was granted bail at a hearing in the United Kingdom. The player appeared at the Westminster Magistrates Court and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Parley would take the field with the Ghana national team next Wednesday (17), against Panama at Toronto Stadium.
Fifa Note
"FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will not be able to travel from the Ghana national team's training center in Boston, United States, to Canada for the first match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, as his visa application was refused by the Canadian government," FIFA said in a statement to Reuters. "FIFA is not involved in host countries' immigration processes, including the analysis and decision on visa applications."

Source: G1