Thomas Partey is set to be involved for Ghana against England at the World Cup tonight, despite missing his country's opening win over Panama after he was denied entry into Canada.
Visa Denial and False Claims
Partey is facing ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK but when applying for a visa he made a false claim to Canadian officials. Asked if he had "ever been charged for any criminal offence in any country", Partey said no. He checked a box at the bottom of the document to confirm he had "answered all questions in this application fully and truthfully".
However, Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by the Metropolitan Police, and he was subsequently charged with two new counts of rape in February this year. Those relate to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 and he has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Partey is scheduled to stand trial in June next year.
In total, the footballer has now pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations from four different women.
Legal Response and Appeal
Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he "denies all the charges against him" and added that he welcomes "the opportunity to finally clear his name".
After being prevented from entering Canada, Partey appealed the decision. That was rejected at a federal court, with the ruling pointing to the fact Partey had failed to disclose he is the subject of multiple charges. The 33-year-old remained at Ghana's Rhode Island base while his team-mates travelled to Canada to face Panama.
Canadian and US Immigration Stances
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said: "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."
Partey was granted a visa to the USA before the tournament and that means he is available for Ghana's final two group-stage matches. In a statement, US customs and border protection said: "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."
Upcoming Matches and Potential Issues
Ghana take on England in Boston tonight before travelling to Philadelphia when they face Croatia. Partey spoke to the media ahead of the match against the Three Lions and was asked about his mindset considering the circumstances. "Well, I think it's a part of football," he said. "Things happen outside football that you cannot control. So for me now, I feel ok and I'm ready to play."
If Ghana finish second in Group L, Partey could once again face problems in terms of his availability. The runners-up in the group will play the second-placed team from Group K in the round of 32 and that match will be held in Toronto.
Coach's Defence
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz defended his decision to include Partey in his World Cup squad. "This is not for me or you to make a judgement about," he said. "Let the events run their normal course. Let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we are going to find the truth."
