Ghana deputy captain Thomas Partey is battling to secure entry into Canada ahead of the Black Stars’ opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Panama on Wednesday, June 17.
According to reports, the Ghanaian midfielder is expected to appear before a Federal Court in Canada on Tuesday, June 16, as he seeks to overturn a decision that has prevented him from entering the country and joining his national teammates in Toronto.
Sources indicate that the hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. GMT), with Partey expected to be represented by his legal team. The Government of Ghana, through its embassy in Canada, is also reportedly supporting efforts to resolve the matter.
The former Arsenal midfielder was unable to travel with the rest of the Black Stars squad after Canadian authorities reportedly denied him entry under provisions of the country’s immigration laws due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Partey is currently facing seven counts of rape and one count of assault in the UK. The allegations involve four women and relate to incidents alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2022.
The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has consistently denied the allegations. A trial is expected to take place later this year.
It is important to note that these are criminal charges and not convictions. Under UK law, Partey remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
His absence has come as a major concern for the Black Stars ahead of their World Cup opener against Panama at Toronto’s BMO Field.
Should the Canadian court rule in his favour, Partey could arrive in Toronto later on Tuesday and potentially make himself available for selection for Ghana’s first group-stage match.
However, even if the application is unsuccessful, sources suggest he could still feature in Ghana’s remaining group-stage fixtures against England and Croatia later in the tournament.
For now, all eyes remain on Tuesday’s court hearing, which could determine whether one of Ghana’s most influential players is able to join the Black Stars in time for their World Cup campaign.
