Ghana professional Partey denied entry to Canada, misses World Cup opener

The Villarreal FC player is accused of having raped a woman twice in London in December 2020. Previously, the footballer had been charged in July 2025 with five further counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to the years 2021 and 2022. The allegations come from several women. The midfielder also rejected all allegations at that time. At the time of the alleged offenses from 2021 to 2022, Partey was still under contract with FC Arsenal.

For the "Black Stars," as Ghana's national team is called, the absence of the experienced midfielder is a severe setback at the start. According to the federation, Partey has already played 57 international matches for Ghana and is therefore one of the defining figures of the team. As recently as March, the 32-year-old was on the pitch in a friendly against Germany in Stuttgart.

Consequences for Ghana's World Cup opener

The Canadian authorities have denied Partey entry, as FIFA and the German Press Agency report in agreement. The exact reasons for the visa denial and its duration are not yet known. What is certain is that the player will not be able to take the field with the team in Toronto on Wednesday evening (local time).

The Ghanaian Football Association and the team management must decide at short notice how to reshape the squad for the opening match. The World Cup opener against Panama is seen as an important benchmark for the rest of the group stage. Whether Partey can still be deployed during the course of the tournament depends on the outcome of the visa proceedings.

Status of the London proceedings

In parallel, the legal proceedings in London continue. In October, the next hearing is scheduled at the Southwark Crown Court, dealing with the original allegations from December 2020. Only in July 2025 were five further counts of rape and one count of sexual assault from the years 2021 and 2022 added, also coming from several women.

Until a verdict in the criminal case, the presumption of innocence applies. According to assessments from those close to the court, the proceedings could drag on well into 2027. Until then, it remains open how the athlete will be deployed in the coming months – on the pitch as well as in court.