Thomas Partey will not feature in Ghana's opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto after the Canadian government refused his visa application, FIFA has confirmed.

The 32-year-old midfielder is currently facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault stemming from allegations made by four women covering incidents between 2020 and 2022. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to stand trial next year.

FIFA announced that Partey, who represented Arsenal from 2020 to 2025 after earlier spells at Villarreal, will be unable to make the journey from Ghana's training base in Boston to Canada for the fixture.

FIFA's position on the visa refusal

World football's governing body was clear that the decision rests entirely with the host nation's authorities. In a statement, FIFA said: "FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas."

"The host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country."

The ban means Ghana will be without one of their most experienced midfielders for the tournament opener, a significant blow as the Black Stars prepare to make their mark at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.