Ghana's Thomas Partey won't be playing in Canada. Canadian authorities rejected his visa application for the 2026 World Cup.
The midfielder will miss Ghana's opening match against Panama on Thursday. Partey plays for Villarreal after his time at Arsenal.
He's set to face England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27. Both those matches will be held in the United States.
Visa denial stems from serious legal troubles back in Britain. Four women have accused Partey of rape and sexual assault.
The alleged incidents occurred between 2020 and 2022. He's currently on bail with strict conditions against contacting the accusers.
His trial begins next June. The 32-year-old remains a key player for Ghana's squad.
How his absence affects the Black Stars remains unclear. Coach Carlos Quiroz will need to adjust his plans for Canada.
FIFA confirmed that Canada's government made the final call. The world body said it doesn't control immigration decisions by host nations.
"FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas," FIFA stated in a release. "As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country."
Ghana must now prepare for Panama without one of their most experienced campaigners. It's a significant blow as they look to advance from the group stage.
