Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been cleared to play in the United States for the Black Stars’ World Cup matches against England and Croatia, despite being denied entry into Canada for the team’s tournament opener, US Customs and Border Protection has confirmed.
Partey, who is awaiting trial in London on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault, had his Canadian visa application rejected, ruling him out of Ghana’s opening Group L fixture against Panama at BMO Field in Toronto on June 17. However, the 32-year-old Villarreal midfielder was granted a US visa and is currently training with Ghana at their base camp at Bryant University in Rhode Island.
“The US is aware of the pending court case for Mr Partey, however, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa,” a US Customs and Border Protection official said.
Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In July 2025, he was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police, relating to allegations involving three women between 2021 and 2022. In February 2026, he was charged with two additional counts of rape involving a fourth woman. His trial at Southwark Crown Court was originally scheduled for November but may now be delayed until early 2027.
FIFA confirmed the Canadian visa refusal in a statement on Friday. “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” the governing body said. “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country”.
Under Canadian immigration law, a person “may not be allowed into Canada” if they have committed or been convicted of a crime, according to the Canadian government’s website. Although Partey has been charged, he has not been convicted and is awaiting trial.
A spokesperson for Canada’s Immigration Minister Lena Diab told the Toronto Star: “Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws. Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies”.
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has defended his decision to include Partey in his 26-man World Cup squad, citing the presumption of innocence. “As far as I know — in England and Portugal, wherever we are living in this world — until the court makes a decision, the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases,” Queiroz told a press conference earlier this month.
Partey’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose, has said in a statement that her client welcomes “the opportunity to finally clear his name”. Partey also has a pending defamation case against a Panamanian lawyer in the United States, which he has reportedly accepted a settlement on and dropped a restraining order request.
Ghana, drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama, will play their remaining group matches in the United States: against England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23, and against Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. Partey is expected to be available for both fixtures.
