Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto after being denied admission into Canada.
The 32-year-old, who is a member of Ghana’s roster and presently plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was set to fly with the team from their training camp in Boston.
However, Canadian authorities refused his visa application, barring him from entering the country for the match.
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, FIFA confirmed the situation in a statement and underlined that it does not influence host countries’ immigration policies.
“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 major setback for Ghana ahead of their Group stage opening, given his expertise and importance in midfield.
The athlete has pled not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault stemming from allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.
He is set to stand trial next year.
Ghana’s midfield plans are set to change as they prepare for their opening match against Panama, with more squad decisions likely before kickoff.
