Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's opening World Cup 2026 fixture against Panama in Toronto on June 18 after a Canadian federal court rejected an emergency appeal to overturn a travel ban blocking his entry into the country.

Justice Roger Lafreniere of the Federal Court denied the emergency injunction application at a hearing held in Ottawa, dealing a blow to the Ghana Football Association's efforts to have the midfielder available for the group stage opener.

The legal backdrop

Partey, 33, was initially refused a visa to enter Canada due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. The Metropolitan Police charged him with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July last year. Two further rape counts were added in February, and two additional counts of rape were brought against him in April, to which he pleaded not guilty at Southwark Crown Court. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.

Ghana FA officials challenged the original refusal, noting that Partey had been permitted to travel to the squad's base in Providence, Rhode Island, in the United States. That argument did not persuade Justice Lafreniere, whose ruling came just two hours after Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz admitted he was still awaiting clarity on the situation.

Queiroz speaks before ruling

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at BDO Field, Queiroz said: