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 →