Black Stars midfielder Thomas Teye Partey has suffered a setback in his bid to join Ghana’s squad in Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a Canadian Federal Court dismissed his urgent application challenging the refusal of his visa.

In a ruling delivered on June 16, 2026, Justice Roger R. Lafrenière rejected Partey’s request for expedited judicial intervention following the decision of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to deny him a Temporary Resident Visa.

Partey had asked the court to fast-track his application or direct Canadian immigration authorities to urgently reconsider the refusal, arguing that he needed clearance to travel and join the Black Stars ahead of Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto.

However, the court ruled that it could not bypass established immigration procedures or effectively grant a visa through an interim order.

The judge held that granting the relief sought would have deprived the government of a fair opportunity to respond and would have bypassed key legal requirements, including the submission of complete records and the formal process for judicial review.

Partey applied for the visa on May 21, 2026, under a FIFA invitation to join Ghana’s World Cup delegation but was refused entry on June 10 after Canadian authorities determined that he was inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Immigration officials cited serious criminal charges currently pending against him in the United Kingdom, noting that if proven, the allegations would amount to indictable offences under Canadian law.

Court documents also revealed that officials raised concerns about inconsistencies in Partey’s application and requested additional information, including police records from the UK.

The ruling noted that Partey initially stated he had never been arrested or charged but later submitted documents confirming he was facing multiple criminal charges.

His legal team argued that the visa refusal was unfair and requested that the court allow him entry on humanitarian or temporary grounds so he could fulfil his national team duties. They also sought expedited reconsideration of a temporary resident permit application.

However, the court ruled that immigration inadmissibility decisions must follow due process and cannot be overridden to accommodate short-term sporting commitments.

Justice Lafrenière further found that Partey had failed to establish a serious issue for trial, stating that immigration officials were entitled to rely on reasonable grounds when assessing admissibility, even without a conviction.

The court also held that Partey did not demonstrate irreparable harm, noting that the situation largely stemmed from the underlying criminal allegations rather than the visa refusal itself.

On the balance of convenience, the judge concluded that Canada’s interest in enforcing its immigration laws outweighed any request for exceptional treatment.

The decision leaves Partey’s participation in Ghana’s World Cup campaign in Canada uncertain unless another legal or administrative route succeeds.

Ghana begins its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17.