Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeSportsSoccerGhana's Thomas Partey loses bid to enter Canada for World Cup due to rape chargesAccra filed a request for an injunction in federal court on Tuesday seeking to set aside Ottawa's decisionAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Thomas Partey of Ghana during an International Friendly match between Wales and Ghana in Cardiff, Wales, on June 2, 2026. Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty ImagesGhana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial on rape charges in Britain, lost a court challenge on Tuesday that would have allowed him to enter Canada for his side’s World Cup opener in Toronto.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorOttawa denied the Villarreal player a visa over the British charges, blocking him from playing for Ghana against Panama on Wednesday.Accra filed a request for an injunction in federal court on Tuesday seeking to set aside Ottawa’s decision.But broadcaster CBC said Judge Roger Lafreniere had dismissed the challenge.Shortly before the decision was handed down, Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz told reporters in Toronto that his side would be ready, regardless of the court outcome.“My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” Queiroz said.“When the decision comes, we are ready.”Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen, also asked about Partey’s possible exclusion, said he believed Ghana would pose strong competition even if the former Arsenal player was not on the pitch.“They have a lot of other footballers who can take on his role,” he said in Spanish.Ghana would not be “weaker” because Partey was absent, he added.“They have a lot more experience than we have,” Christiansen said of the Black Stars.Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has called Canada’s decision “high-handed and extremely unfair,” describing Partey as “a key member of Ghana’s senior national team.”Accra has sent an official “note of protest” to Ottawa over the move and formally asked Canada to review the decision, Ablakwa said.Canada’s foreign ministry told AFP that it “maintains regular diplomatic engagement with Ghana, including on consular and migration-related issues when they arise.”But the ministry declined comment on discussions with Ghana about Partey’s exclusion and said decisions on entering the country are made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).IRCC said “Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws.”“Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies,” it added in a statement.Partey is facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in Britain relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.He denies the allegations.Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. 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