Ghana to Seek Legal Action After Partey Is Denied Entry to Canada in 2026 World Cup Context

The Ghanaian government has announced that it will seek legal recourse in Canada’s federal court over the decision to bar midfielder Thomas Partey from entering the country, The Athletic reported.

Ghana’s first World Cup match is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, at Toronto’s BMO Field against Panama. The Athletic disclosed on Friday that Partey, 33, would be unable to play because he was denied entry to Canada.

The government’s statement said the ruling appears to be based on pending criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have yet to result in a conviction or a finding of guilt.

Partey, a Villarreal midfielder who previously played for Arsenal, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by London’s Metropolitan Police. He pleaded not guilty in September of that year. In February of this year, he faced two additional rape charges, to which he again pleaded not guilty in April.

Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa posted a statement on X, noting that the government is “pursuing active diplomatic engagements” and that the “high‑handed” ruling “raises fundamental questions of fairness and proportionality.”

Also Read: We’re Solidly Behind Partey – Ghana FA

“The Government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and due process in democratic societies,” the statement read.

The statement further explained that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had made the decision on the basis of inadmissibility under paragraph A36(1)(c) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The Athletic has asked the IRCC for comment.

Paragraph A36(1)(c) states: “A permanent resident or a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality for committing an act outside Canada that is an offence in the place where it was committed and that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence under an Act of Parliament punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.”

Partey arrived in Washington, D.C., with his national‑team teammates on June 4. The squad moved to their training base in Rhode Island on Friday. Their remaining group‑stage matches will be against England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23 and against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27.

If Ghana advances as one of the best third‑place teams, they could face a round‑of‑32 opponent in Vancouver.