Overview
- Canada refused Partey entry, stopping him from travelling from Ghana’s U.S. training base to Toronto for the June 17 match against Panama.
- U.S. authorities allowed Partey to enter and stay with Ghana for group matches held in the United States, so he is likely to be available for the U.S.-hosted games.
- The visa refusal appears linked to multiple criminal charges in the United Kingdom; Partey has pleaded not guilty in London and faces future hearings with no conviction to date.
- Ghana’s government sent an official protest note to Canada on June 11 and says it will pursue diplomatic and legal remedies while invoking the presumption of innocence.
- The case highlights how sovereign immigration rules, not FIFA, control border decisions and how unequal entry outcomes across hosts can disrupt team logistics and raise wider fairness questions.