Ghana midfielder Partey barred from 2026 World Cup opener in Canada

Ghana will start their 2026 World Cup campaign without Thomas Partey after Canadian authorities denied him entry.

Partey excluded from Ghana opener Ghana’s hopes for their first match in the 2026 World Cup suffered a setback after Thomas Partey was refused permission to enter Canada. The 32-year-old midfielder faces legal proceedings in his home country, with charges including seven counts of rape and one accusation of sexual assault. These allegations span incidents reported by four women between 2020 and 2022. His trial is scheduled to begin at some point next year. ## Ghana remains confident in Partey Despite the absence of their key player, Ghana head coach Queiroz expressed no concerns about selecting Partey for the tournament. The technical staff has maintained full faith in his abilities and continues to consider him part of the squad. The team’s preparations for the World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto remain unchanged. Officials have not indicated any plans to replace him in the lineup. ## World Cup 2026 preparations underway The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by three nations, is fast approaching with Ghana set to compete in their opening fixture. Broadcasters have confirmed plans to televise all matches, giving fans worldwide access to the tournament. Viewers can follow Ghana’s journey through scheduled broadcasts across multiple platforms. Additional details about match timings and coverage options have been made available to the public.