FIFA World Cup: Ghana challenges Partey's visa rejection in Canadian court

TORONTO: The government of Ghana was headed to the Canadian federal court on Tuesday seeking to overturn the country's refusal to issue a FIFA World Cup visa to its national men's football team's player, Thomas Partey.

According to the local media, the hearing was set for Tuesday morning, with the West African country pursuing an injunction application that could allow the midfielder to feature in their campaign opener against Panama, scheduled to be played here on Wednesday.

The report also suggested that the Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has labelled Canada's decision "high-handed and extremely unfair", while terming Partey as "a key member of Ghana's senior national team".

He further shared that Accra has sent an official "note of protest" to Ottawa over the move and formally asked Canada to review the decision.

For the unversed, Partey, 32, is facing trial in Britain after being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by London's Metropolitan Police.

Later that year, in September, the Ghana midfielder pleaded not guilty but was charged with two new counts of rape in February this year, to which he pleaded not guilty in April.

Meanwhile, Ghana, slotted in Group L, are due to start their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Panama on June 17, while their remaining league-stage matches are scheduled against England and Croatia on June 23 and 27, respectively.

Ghana squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen) and Joseph Anang (St. Patrick's).

Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg), Kojo Oppong Peprah (Nice) and Derrick Luckassen (Pafos).

Midfielders: Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu (Leicester) and Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta).

Forwards: Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry), Prince Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) and Jordan Ayew (Leicester).