According to the statement you provided, Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama after Canada reportedly denied him entry into the country.
The midfielder’s absence would be a significant setback for the Black Stars, who are already dealing with injury concerns involving Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu.
However, it is important to note that this information directly contradicts earlier public comments from Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, who stated that he was unaware of any Canadian visa denial involving Partey and had received no such communication from the Ghana Football Association.
If FIFA has now officially confirmed that Partey’s visa application was refused by the Canadian government, that would represent a major new development and would explain why he cannot travel for the match in Toronto.
The Black Stars are scheduled to open their Group L campaign against Panama before facing England and Croatia in their remaining group matches. Partey’s availability for those fixtures would depend on the host country requirements and any further decisions by tournament authorities.
Without independent verification of the FIFA statement, I cannot confirm that this development has officially occurred, but based on the information provided, Partey would be unavailable for Ghana’s opener against Panama.
