Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada.
The 32-year-old, who is part of Ghana’s squad and currently plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was expected to travel with the team from their training base in Boston.
His visa application was rejected by Canadian authorities, preventing him from entering the country for the fixture.
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, in a statement, FIFA confirmed the development and clarified that it does not intervene in immigration decisions taken by host nations.
‘FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas’, the governing body said.
‘The host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country’.
Partey’s absence is a significant blow for Ghana ahead of their Group stage opener, given his experience and importance in midfield.
The player has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022.
He is scheduled to stand trial next year.
Ghana are now expected to adjust their midfield plans as they prepare for their opening fixture against Panama, with further squad decisions likely ahead of kick-off.
