A blow before kick-off
Ghana havent even played a minute at World Cup 2026 and the Black Stars are already taking a major hit. Not on the pitch. Not in the dressing room. But thousands of miles from the action.
Thomas Partey will miss his countrys opener against Panama. And the reason has nothing to do with football. The Ghana midfielder has been refused entry to Canada because of the rape and sexual assault allegations he still faces.
It is a brutal setback for Ghana, arriving just days before a global stage where every player is expected to be at full tilt.
Canada shuts the door
On Friday, Canadian authorities decided to block the former Arsenal man from entering the country. The move is directly tied to the legal case against him in the UK.
Partey has been charged with five counts linked to alleged incidents said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, during his time with the Gunners. In September 2025, he pleaded not guilty in a UK court. His next court date is set for 2 November 2026.
That legal situation has not stopped him playing professionally. This season, he has been turning out for Villarreal.
But being fit to play and being allowed through the border are two very different things. Canada has just made that painfully clear.
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A huge loss for the Black Stars
For Ghanas coach, this is a last-minute headache he could have done without.
For more than a decade, Partey has been one of the faces of Ghanaian football. His experience, his ability to control the tempo and his influence in midfield make him a key part of the Black Stars setup.
Against Panama, Ghana will now have to reshuffle the middle of the park. It is not impossible, but it is the sort of disruption any side would rather avoid on the eve of a World Cup campaign.
In a tournament where the margins are tiny, losing a player of that calibre can shift the balance of an entire group.
A possible return later in the tournament
This may not be the end of the story.
After their first match in Canada, Ghana continue their tournament in the United States. The Black Stars then face England on 23 June before taking on Croatia on 27 June.
Unlike Canada, US authorities have not barred Partey from entering the country. If no other travel issue gets in the way, the Ghana midfielder could yet link up with his squad for the rest of the group stage.
That at least gives Ghana a sliver of hope. In a tough group, every point will matter. And every leader too.
For now, though, the Black Stars must face Panama without one of their most experienced men. A messy start to a World Cup that has barely begun for them.
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