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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ed Aarons in New York and Leyland Cecco in Toronto

Thomas Partey out of Ghana’s World Cup opener after visa application to Canada refused

Thomas Partey of Ghana
Thomas Partey’s visa application to enter Canada was rejected. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images

Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada and will not be available for Ghana’s first World Cup game in Toronto on Wednesday.

The former Arsenal midfielder was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by the Metropolitan police and pleaded not guilty. Partey, who now plays for the Spanish club Villarreal, was subsequently charged with two new counts of rape in February and also pleaded not guilty.

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