Also known as: FIFA Council · FIFA Congress
International football governing body that organizes the World Cup, confirms attendance figures, and defers visa and immigration decisions to host governments.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
FIFA has blamed an airline after Uruguay experienced trouble arriving in Miami on the eve of their first World Cup 2026 match over a flight permit issue. …
FIFA releases statement over Uruguay travel chaos before World Cup 2026 matchJoy Online
… ng,” Ceferin is reported to have said by a Slovenian news outlet, external. “On the other hand, even small countries can participate and feel the pulse of the World Cup, which is a big thing.” But that has produced a backlash from some of the nations that have benefited from FIFA …
World Cup teams reject Ceferin ‘uninteresting’ claimJoy Online
… I had the right visa,” said Artan. “I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.” After being put back on a plane to Turkey, Artan received assistance from FIFA officials in Istanbul before boarding a flight to …
FIFA to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup feeJoy Online
… The country’s World Cup group-stage ticket allocation for supporters was revoked by US officials earlier this week, though Fifa has insisted it is working to “maximise opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches”. …
Iran win four staff visa appeals but 11 bannedJoy Online
Ghana’s Ministry of Sports and Recreation has called on FIFA to take a “more active interest” in safeguarding the rights of participating nations after midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada. …
2026 World Cup: Sports Ministry demands FIFA intervention over Partey’s visa denialThe Chronicle
The Government of Ghana has formally protested Canada’s decision to deny Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey entry into the country for Ghana’s opening Group Stage match against Panama at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. …
GHANA PROTESTS CANADA’S REFUSAL OF PARTEY VISAJoy Online
… In a statement issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, the government said it had “strong reservations” about the decision by Canadian authorities to refuse Partey’s visa application ahead of Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. …
World Cup: Reliance on unproven charges unfair – Foreign Ministry challenges Canada’s decision to deny Thomas Partey entryJoy Online
FIFA insists the attendance figure for the World Cup clash between South Korea and Czech Republic was accurate after pictures appeared to show thousands of empty seats. …
FIFA defends attendance figure amidst empty seatsJoy Online
The government has intensified its criticism of FIFA over the decision by Canada to deny Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for Ghana’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the situation as a troubling precedent that threatens the integrity of internation …
Kofi Adams slams FIFA over Partey visa refusal responseJoy Online
The government has strongly criticised Canada’s decision to deny a visa to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of Ghana’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the move as unfair, excessive and contrary to the principle of presumption of innocence. …
Thomas Partey’s Canada visa denial unfair, overreaction and wrong – Kofi AdamsUruguay's national team experienced a travel delay from Cancun to Miami on the eve of their World Cup 2026 match against Saudi Arabia due to an airline permitting error. FIFA blamed the airline for paperwork issues preventing the aircraft's clearance to fly, while the Uruguayan FA blamed FIFA for the disruption.
8 hours ago · Joy Online →
Uruguay's national team experienced a travel delay from Cancun to Miami on the eve of their World Cup 2026 match against Saudi Arabia due to an airline permitting error. FIFA blamed the airline for paperwork issues preventing the aircraft's clearance to fly, while the Uruguayan FA blamed FIFA for the disruption.
8 hours ago · Joy Online →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin faced criticism from 13 World Cup nations—including Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and South Africa—after reportedly stating that expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams has led to many "uninteresting" matches. The football associations rejected his comments, saying that for their countries, World Cup participation represents a historic achievement and there is no such thing as an unimportant match.
11 hours ago · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup after US authorities cited his alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations," but FIFA will pay him his full tournament fee despite his inability to participate.
12 hours ago · Joy Online →
Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have won appeals against US visa rejections, but 11 members of the party will not be allowed to travel to the US. Iran's team is based in Mexico after initially being denied visas for backroom staff members.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Ministry of Sports and Recreation has called on FIFA to intervene after midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada, making him unavailable for Ghana's World Cup Group L opener against Panama on 17 June. The Ministry argues that all qualified nations should have access to their eligible players throughout the competition.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's government has formally protested Canada's refusal to grant midfielder Thomas Teye Partey entry for the nation's opening World Cup match against Panama, citing pending criminal proceedings in the UK. Ghana has characterized the decision as "high-handed and extremely unfair" and is pursuing diplomatic engagements with Canadian authorities to overturn it.
13 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
Ghana's Foreign Ministry formally protested Canada's refusal of a temporary residence visa to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey, calling the decision unfair and inconsistent with the presumption of innocence, as it was based on ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom with no conviction. The government has initiated diplomatic engagements with Canadian authorities to seek a review of the decision.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA defended its announced attendance of 44,985 for a World Cup Group A match between South Korea and Czech Republic in Guadalajara, saying the figure was based on verified operational data and ticket scans of all spectators within the stadium footprint, despite pictures showing many empty seats. The governing body noted that some ticketed fans stood in concourses rather than remaining in assigned seats.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Sports Minister Kofi Adams has criticized FIFA's handling of Canada's decision to deny Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for Ghana's 2026 World Cup opening match, arguing that FIFA failed to adequately protect participating nations and their players and should have ensured clearance for World Cup participants.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Sports Minister Kofi Adams has strongly criticised Canada's decision to deny midfielder Thomas Partey a visa for Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H match against Panama on June 17, calling the move unfair and an overreaction that violates the principle of presumption of innocence. Ghana has formally protested the visa refusal.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA confirmed that midfielder Thomas Partey will be unable to travel to Canada for Ghana's opening World Cup match against Panama on June 17 after Canadian authorities rejected his visa application. FIFA stated it has no role in immigration decisions, which remain the sole jurisdiction of host governments.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana is seeking a review of Canada's denial of a visa to Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the Black Stars' opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto. Sports Minister Kofi Adams says the government has engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to challenge the decision, while Partey remains eligible for Ghana's other group matches.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied access to Canada and will miss Ghana's opening FIFA World Cup match, a significant loss given his experience and midfield role. Neither FIFA nor Ghana's football authorities immediately provided details on the circumstances of the denial.
12 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama on June 17 in Canada after Canadian authorities refused his visa application. FIFA confirmed Partey cannot travel from Ghana's base camp in Boston, noting that host governments ultimately determine visa adjudication independently.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama on June 17 in Toronto after Canadian authorities refused his visa application. Partey has been charged with offenses in the UK but has not been convicted; Canadian immigration rules exclude those convicted of crimes, though FIFA states it has no role in host countries' visa decisions.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Thomas Partey's refusal of entry to Canada highlights Section 36 of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which can bar people facing criminal charges—even without conviction—if the conduct allegedly occurred outside Canada. For domestic matters, a conviction is required; for foreign conduct, officers need only "reasonable grounds to believe" criminal activity occurred.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada and will miss Ghana's World Cup tournament opener against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, though he may be eligible to play in subsequent group matches in the United States. Partey, who faces multiple rape and sexual assault charges in the UK, was included in Ghana's squad but cannot travel to Canada after his visa application was refused by the Canadian government.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada and will miss Ghana's World Cup match against Panama on June 17 in Toronto; his visa application was refused by the Canadian government. Partey, facing multiple rape and sexual assault charges in the UK to which he has pleaded not guilty, remains eligible to play in Ghana's subsequent matches in the United States.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Football Association has expressed gratitude to Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited for sponsoring the 2026 Elite U15 Girls Championship, a competition aimed at nurturing young female football talent and providing pathways for development into elite academies and national teams.
12 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Ghana's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will deliver economic benefits across tourism, travel agencies, airlines, sports bars, and merchandise sales, with increased demand expected as Ghanaian fans follow the Black Stars during group stage matches in North America.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has secured exclusive free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with additional authorised television stations including Max TV, Sporty TV, TV3, Onua TV, UTV, Metro TV, Original TV and Woezor TV licensed to air the tournament through a National Broadcast Consortium.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Germany's national team players are paying for free bus transport to take 600 fans from New York to their World Cup group match against Ecuador in New Jersey on June 25, in response to inflated transport costs at the tournament after FIFA refused to subsidise transport expenditure.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
FIFA President Infantino said the organization cannot override government decisions on visa and immigration matters, addressing a case where a Somali referee was denied U.S. entry despite holding a valid visa. Infantino stressed that FIFA is working behind the scenes on outstanding issues but acknowledged that immigration decisions ultimately rest with national authorities.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the US and barred from World Cup duty by American authorities, has been selected by UEFA to officiate the August 12 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams said 80 per cent of Ghana's World Cup tickets purchased by government are tagged and cannot be resold, with tickets linked to specific individuals and activated only 24 hours before matches to prevent transfer and abuse of the allocation process.
11 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Omar Artan, a Somali referee barred from entering the United States for World Cup duty due to visa and vetting concerns, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Iran's Sports Minister said the team will stop matches if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted at stadiums, following criticism of Iran's World Cup participation. The warning comes as Iran opens its Group G campaign against New Zealand on June 15, with subsequent matches against Belgium and Egypt.
11 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Germany flew in veteran groundskeeper Sebastian Breuning to maintain their training pitch at Wake Forest University during the World Cup in North Carolina, where high temperatures and humidity require extra pitch watering. FIFA has mandated three-minute hydration breaks in each half for all World Cup matches beginning Thursday due to soaring temperatures.
11 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Omar Artan, a Somali referee selected for his first World Cup, was denied entry to the US by the Trump administration over alleged links to suspected members of terror organisations. He returned to Mogadishu on Wednesday and called the decision "unfortunate," saying he will attempt to officiate at the next tournament.
11 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
FIFA has signed a memorandum of understanding with global players' union FIFPRO, granting the union veto power over key governance areas and observer status with speaking rights on FIFA Council. The deal includes protections against abusive practices and was reached as FIFA faced legal claims around player welfare, with all proceedings to be withdrawn.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →