Thomas Partey will be absent for Ghana's opening fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after an appeal against a ban on his entry into Canada was rejected.

The decision to refuse Partey entry has been upheld, leaving the Black Stars without one of their most experienced midfielders for their first match of the tournament.

Ghana had challenged the ruling in the hope of securing Partey's availability for the opener, but those efforts have proven unsuccessful.

The ban means Partey cannot travel to Canada, one of the three co-host nations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside the United States and Mexico. Depending on where Ghana's opening game is scheduled, his absence could prove a significant blow to the Black Stars' campaign.

Partey has been a central figure in Ghana's midfield for several years, bringing experience and composure to a side that will be aiming to make a deep run at the tournament. His absence from the opener is a setback head coach will have to plan around.

No further details regarding the specific grounds for the entry refusal have been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether Partey could become available for later group-stage fixtures should those matches be hosted in the United States or Mexico.