Heartbreak for Black Stars as Federal Court rejects Thomas Partey’s visa appeal, ruled out World Cup opener

In a devastating blow to Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign, a Canadian Federal Court judge has dismissed Thomas Partey’s emergency visa appeal, officially ruling the influential midfielder out of Wednesday’s Group L opener against Panama in Toronto.

Justice Roger R. Lafrenière upheld the decision by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to deny the 33-year-old a Temporary Resident Visa, citing “ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom”. Partey faces multiple rape and sexual assault charges in the UK, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

A Critical Error in the Application

Central to the dismissal was a significant discrepancy in Partey’s visa paperwork. Court documents revealed the midfielder answered “no” to questions about whether he had ever been arrested or charged. However, he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK.

Justice Lafrenière stated there was “no serious issue in the underlying refusal” of the visa, noting the applicant “failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK”. The court also emphasized that under Canadian immigration rules, “having reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed is sufficient” and a conviction is not required to find an applicant inadmissible.

The Appeal and the Ruling

Partey’s legal team, led by lawyer Mackeda Bramwell, argued for entry on humanitarian and temporary grounds to fulfill sporting commitments. In an affidavit, Partey pledged to remain under constant team supervision and leave Canada according to the tournament schedule. “I have not been convicted of any offense. I have pleaded not guilty, and I remain presumed innocent,” he stated.

Despite these arguments, Justice Lafrenière rejected the request for emergency relief. He ruled that granting it would “undermine procedural fairness” and effectively bypass established immigration laws, adding that Canada’s interest in enforcing its immigration laws outweighed the request for exceptional treatment.

Government Intervention and Reactions

The Ghanaian government had actively intervened, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizing the initial visa denial as a “high-handed and extremely unfair decision”. However, the federal court’s ruling proved final.

IRCC remained firm, stating: “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”.

Impact on the Black Stars

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz, who had previously expressed no qualms about selecting Partey, adopted a pragmatic stance. “My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” he told reporters.

The Black Stars will now face Panama at BMO Field in Toronto without their most influential midfielder. Partey remains with the team at their U.S. base in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and remains eligible to play in subsequent matches against England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.

For now, however, one of Ghana’s key players will be watching from across the border as his World Cup dream is put on hold by the unwavering letter of the law.