Canada Denies Visa to Ghana's Thomas Partey Over Rape Allegations While U.S. Allows Entry
Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry to Canada for the 2026 World Cup due to rape allegations. Japan's Kaishu Sano remains on the roster despite similar accusations.
espn.co.ukGhana midfielder Thomas Partey was denied a Canadian visa because of rape allegations, according to official information confirmed on Saturday by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The denial bars Partey from entering Canada and means he will miss Ghana’s opening group-stage match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
The United States permitted Partey to enter its borders when Ghana established its World Cup base camp in Providence, Rhode Island.
He is expected to rejoin the team for its second group match against England in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 23 June 2026 and its third against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June 2026. Japan’s Kaishu Sano remains on Japan’s 2026 World Cup roster despite being implicated in a gang-rape case. Japan’s opening match against the Netherlands is scheduled for early Monday morning in Arlington, Texas.
An X user claiming to be a former professional journalist posted more than a dozen tweets warning women in host cities about a rapist on the Japanese squad. @SCMPNews reported the contrasting visa decisions for the two players accused of sexual assault.
