* Partey is on bail for allegations of rape and sexual assault whose trial has been delayed to June 2027 and he denies the charges
* But he is available to play against England second Group L fixture on June 23 in Boston and final group game with Croatia on June 27, both in USA where his Visa was accepted
Maravi Express
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been refused entry into Canada for the Black Stars’ opening FIFA World Cup™ 2026 match against Panama set for on Wednesday, June 17.
But he is available to play against England second Group L fixture on June 23 in Boston and final group game with Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia — both in USA where Partey and the squad have been training.
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A report by Sky Sports indicates that Partey, who is on bail for allegations of rape and sexual assault — charges which he denies — had his visa application refused by the Canadian government.
The former Arsenal midfielder, who now plays his club football for Villarreal, is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault by four different women, who accuse him over incidents between 2020 and 2022.
He is on bail with a condition that he does not contact alleged victims and the trial will start in June 2027.
In a statement FIFA indicated that it 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.
A spokesperson for the Canadian government’s immigration, refugees and citizenship department said in statement that “Canada is proud to be a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians.
“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.
“Under Canadian law, foreign nationals can be found inadmissible without a foreign conviction. When there are reasonable grounds to believe an act that would trigger inadmissibility has been committed by an applicant, they can be deemed inadmissible to Canada.”
In a statement to Sky Sports News, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office said: “On June 3, 2026, CBP officers inspected and admitted Ghana national, Thomas Partey, into the United States.
“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. All travelers seeking entry into the United States, including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to CBP inspection.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection.
“CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with US law. CBP’s defers to Canada for questions on his denial of entry.”
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Partey, who left Arsenal for Villarreal in June 2025, was charged in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one allegation of sexual assault, dating back to 2021 and 2022.
In February this year, it was announced that Partey had been charged with two additional rape allegations dating back to December 2020. The footballer has appeared previously in the dock to plead not guilty to all charges — seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The midfielder, who previously lived in Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth around £45 million.
US authorities have refused visas to some members of the Iran team’s support staff, fans for Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire as well as Somali-FIFA-accredited-referee-Omar-Artan-who-has-since-been-granted-an-opportunity-by-UEFA-to-officiate-in-UEFA-Super-Cup-2026-in-August.
Omar Artan
On the pitch, co-hosts United States launched their World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion on Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 with a perfectly scripted opening performance to delight a star-studded home crowd in Los Angeles.
Folarin Balogun scored twice while relentless US pressure led to an early Paraguay own goal from Damian Bobadilla before substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth to cap a dream start for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side at the SoFi Stadium in Group D.
In Friday’s other game, Canada earned the first World Cup point in its history when Cyle Larin grabbed a second-half equaliser in Toronto to make it 1-1 after Bosnia-Herzegovina had taken the lead with a close-range header from Jovo Lukic.—Reporting by Sky Sports & SuperSport; Editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
Group stage results and next fixtures
June 11
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
June 12
Group A
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 13
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Group B
Qatar v Switzerland
June 14
Group C
Brazil v Morocco
Haiti v Scotland
Group D
Australia v Turkiye
Group E
Germany v Curacao
Group F
Netherlands v Japan
June 15
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire v Ecuador
Group F
Sweden v Tunisia
Group H
Spain v Cape Verde
Group G
Belgium v Egypt
June 16
Group H
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay
Group G
Iran v New Zealand
Group I
France v Senegal
June 17
Group I
Iraq v Norway
Group J
Argentina v Algeria
Austria v Jordan
Group K
Portugal v DR Congo
Group L
England v Croatia
June 18
Group L
Ghana v Panama
Group K
Uzbekistan Vs Colombia
Group A
Czechia v South Africa
Group B
Switzerland v Bosnia & Herzegovina
June 19
Group B
Canada v Qatar
Group A
Mexico v South Korea
Group D
USA v Australia
June 20
Group C
Scotland v Morocco
Brazil v Haiti
Group D
Turkiye v Paraguay
Group F
Netherlands v Sweden
Group E
Germany v Côte d’Ivoire
June 21
Group E
Ecuador Vs Curacao
Group F
Tunisia v Japan
Group H
Spain v Saudi Arabia
Group G
Belgium v Iran
June 22
Group H
Uruguay v Cape Verde
Group G
New Zealand v Egypt
Group J
Argentina v Austria
June 23
Group I
France v Iraq
Norway v Senegal
Group J
Jordan v Algeria
Group K
Portugal v Uzbekistan
Group L
England v Ghana
June 24
Group L
Panama v Croatia
Group K
Colombia v DR Congo
Group B
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Qatar
Switzerland Vs Canada
June 25
Group C
Morocco v Haiti
Scotland Vs Brazil
Group A
Czechia v Mexico
South Africa v South Korea
Group E
Ecuador v Germany
Curacao Côte d’Ivoire
June 26
Group F
Tunisia v Netherlands
Japan v Sweden
Group D
Paraguay v Australia
Turkiye v USA
Group I
Norway v France
Senegal v Iraq
June 27
Group H
Uruguay Spain
Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia
Group G
New Zealand v Belgium
Egypt v Iran
June 28
Group L
Panama v England
Croatia v Ghana
Group K
DR Congo v Uzbekistan
Colombia v Portugal
Group J
Jordan v Argentina
Algeria v Austria
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