Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's opening FIFA World Cup match against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada.

The former Arsenal midfielder, who currently plays for Villarreal, was included in Ghana's squad for the tournament and arrived in the United States with the team earlier this month.

However, FIFA has confirmed that his visa application was refused by Canadian authorities, making him unavailable for Ghana's Group L opener at BMO Field on June 17.

In a statement to The Athletic, FIFA said it does not participate in host countries' immigration decisions and that visa approvals are determined solely by the respective governments.

Partey remains eligible to feature in Ghana's remaining group matches against England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.

The 32-year-old is currently facing multiple criminal charges in the United Kingdom. He was charged by London's Metropolitan Police in July 2025 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty. He was later charged with two additional counts of rape in February 2026 and again pleaded not guilty.

The charges, involving four women, relate to alleged incidents between 2020 and 2022. The case is scheduled to be tried at Southwark Crown Court in London, with proceedings expected to extend into 2027.

Canadian immigration authorities have previously stated that individuals who have committed or been convicted of crimes may be deemed inadmissible to Canada, although Partey has not been convicted and is awaiting trial.

Under the conditions of his bail, Partey is required to notify authorities of any plans to travel abroad.