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Ghana has long been one of the giants of African soccer, and the Black Stars are off to a solid start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The team, which is based in Providence for the duration of its tournament run while training at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, kicked off Group L play on Wednesday, June 17 in Toronto against Panama. After a sluggish opening 45 minutes, the Black Stars picked up momentum in the second half and capitalized in extra time as Caleb Yirenkyi found the back of the net in the 95th minute for the 1-0 win.
However, the Black Stars were without their vice-captain Thomas Partey, whose visa application to Canada was denied and he was forced to remain in Rhode Island. While the midfielder is expected to play against England on Tuesday, June 23 at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup), his potential inclusion in that match, and the tournament as a whole, has been a source of controversy.
Here's what you need to know about Partey and the charges he's facing in the nation he's set to go up against in Foxboro.
Partey is a 33 year old midfielder who currently plays for La Liga club Villarreal CF and the Ghana Men's National Team. He was named the Ghana Player of the Year by the Ghana Football Association in 2018 and 2019 and has served as the Black Stars' vice captain since 2020.
Born and raised in Krobo Odumase, Ghana, Partey came up through the academy of local club Odometah FC before signing to the academy of Spanish club CD Leganés in 2012 and shortly after La Liga side Atlético Madrid. He spent eight seasons contracted to Atleti, spending the 2013-14 season on loan at RCD Mallorca and 2014-15 on loan at UD Almería, and helped the capital club win the 2018 UEFA Europa League and earned a 2020-21 La Liga winners medal.
On Oct. 5, 2020, Partey's £45 million ($58,185,000) releaser clause was triggered by Premier League club Arsenal FC, with him joining the Gunners on a five-year contract. During his time in North London, he became a key part of the squad and helped them to win the 2023 FA Community Shield. His contract, however, was not renewed at its conclusion.
On Aug. 7, 2025, Partey signed with Villarreal on a free transfer for one year with an additional year option, appearing in 25 matches without scoring a goal this past season. On Wednesday, June 17, The Athletic reported Villareal will not activate the option on Partey's contract, meaning he's set to become a free agent for a second summer in a row.
More: Somali referee denied US entry for World Cup: What Trump administration said
Partey is set to stand trial in the UK on seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault. The charges first came about in July 2025 when he was accused of five instances of rape against two women and sexual assault by a third between 2021 and 2022, for which Partey pled not guilty. In February, two more charges of rape were brought about by accusations from a fourth woman for alleged instances in 2020, for which he also pled not guilty. On April 13, a judge at the Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled all eight charges should be tried together, but that the trial could be pushed back until January 2027.
For Partey's case, he "vehemently defends his innocence and denies all charges against him," per a statement by Villarreal when he signed last August. He has also received the backing of Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku, who told Ghanian broadcaster Asaase Radio in February that the GFA stands "shoulder to shoulder with him during these challenging times" and that as vice-captain, he was a "key member of the Black Stars." Coach Carlos Quieroz, who took the reigns of the Black Stars in April, defended his selection of Partey to reporters in a press conference ahead of a friendly against Wales on Monday, June 1, saying that "until the court makes a decision, that the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases."
On June 12, FIFA confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Partey's visa application had been denied and he would not be allowed into Canada for Ghana's opening match against Panama. According to the Canadian government, Partey falsely answered on his application that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime in any country.
The Ghanian government appealed the decision in Canadian federal court, but the ruling was upheld on Tuesday, June 16.
"Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws," the Canadian government wrote in a statement to USA TODAY. "Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies."
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Based on how he was received when he played for Villarreal against Tottenham in the Champions League, and the chorus of boos he received during a pre-tournament friendly against Wales in Cardiff on June 1, Partey can expect similar treatment at Boston Stadium.
According to The Times of London, England's Football Association is "weighing its options" on whether or not to direct the Three Lions' players to avoid shaking hands with Partey ahead of the match against the Black Stars. Meanwhile in Ghana, National Sports Agency Director General Yaw Ankrah suggested on Joy News that the team could make Partey the captain for the match so that he would lead the handshake line and that if he was ignored, that the rest of the Black Stars refuse to shake hands out of solidarity.
When asked about the impact of Partey's absence in a press conference following the win over Panama, Quiroz gave a dismissive response.
"I think if you saw the game, then you have the answer to your question," Quiroz said. "I think you can have better questions for me, thank you."
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Ghana's Thomas Partey faces rape, sexual assault charges in the UK
Continue reading...
The team, which is based in Providence for the duration of its tournament run while training at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, kicked off Group L play on Wednesday, June 17 in Toronto against Panama. After a sluggish opening 45 minutes, the Black Stars picked up momentum in the second half and capitalized in extra time as Caleb Yirenkyi found the back of the net in the 95th minute for the 1-0 win.
However, the Black Stars were without their vice-captain Thomas Partey, whose visa application to Canada was denied and he was forced to remain in Rhode Island. While the midfielder is expected to play against England on Tuesday, June 23 at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup), his potential inclusion in that match, and the tournament as a whole, has been a source of controversy.
Here's what you need to know about Partey and the charges he's facing in the nation he's set to go up against in Foxboro.
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Who is Thomas Partey?
Partey is a 33 year old midfielder who currently plays for La Liga club Villarreal CF and the Ghana Men's National Team. He was named the Ghana Player of the Year by the Ghana Football Association in 2018 and 2019 and has served as the Black Stars' vice captain since 2020.
Born and raised in Krobo Odumase, Ghana, Partey came up through the academy of local club Odometah FC before signing to the academy of Spanish club CD Leganés in 2012 and shortly after La Liga side Atlético Madrid. He spent eight seasons contracted to Atleti, spending the 2013-14 season on loan at RCD Mallorca and 2014-15 on loan at UD Almería, and helped the capital club win the 2018 UEFA Europa League and earned a 2020-21 La Liga winners medal.
On Oct. 5, 2020, Partey's £45 million ($58,185,000) releaser clause was triggered by Premier League club Arsenal FC, with him joining the Gunners on a five-year contract. During his time in North London, he became a key part of the squad and helped them to win the 2023 FA Community Shield. His contract, however, was not renewed at its conclusion.
On Aug. 7, 2025, Partey signed with Villarreal on a free transfer for one year with an additional year option, appearing in 25 matches without scoring a goal this past season. On Wednesday, June 17, The Athletic reported Villareal will not activate the option on Partey's contract, meaning he's set to become a free agent for a second summer in a row.
More: Somali referee denied US entry for World Cup: What Trump administration said
What is the controversy surrounding Thomas Partey?
Partey is set to stand trial in the UK on seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault. The charges first came about in July 2025 when he was accused of five instances of rape against two women and sexual assault by a third between 2021 and 2022, for which Partey pled not guilty. In February, two more charges of rape were brought about by accusations from a fourth woman for alleged instances in 2020, for which he also pled not guilty. On April 13, a judge at the Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled all eight charges should be tried together, but that the trial could be pushed back until January 2027.
For Partey's case, he "vehemently defends his innocence and denies all charges against him," per a statement by Villarreal when he signed last August. He has also received the backing of Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku, who told Ghanian broadcaster Asaase Radio in February that the GFA stands "shoulder to shoulder with him during these challenging times" and that as vice-captain, he was a "key member of the Black Stars." Coach Carlos Quieroz, who took the reigns of the Black Stars in April, defended his selection of Partey to reporters in a press conference ahead of a friendly against Wales on Monday, June 1, saying that "until the court makes a decision, that the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases."
Why was Thomas Partey's visa application to Canada denied?
On June 12, FIFA confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Partey's visa application had been denied and he would not be allowed into Canada for Ghana's opening match against Panama. According to the Canadian government, Partey falsely answered on his application that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime in any country.
The Ghanian government appealed the decision in Canadian federal court, but the ruling was upheld on Tuesday, June 16.
"Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws," the Canadian government wrote in a statement to USA TODAY. "Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies."
NWSL: Hingham's Lilly Reale traded to Boston. When you can see her play
How will England fans, players react going up against Thomas Partey?
Based on how he was received when he played for Villarreal against Tottenham in the Champions League, and the chorus of boos he received during a pre-tournament friendly against Wales in Cardiff on June 1, Partey can expect similar treatment at Boston Stadium.
According to The Times of London, England's Football Association is "weighing its options" on whether or not to direct the Three Lions' players to avoid shaking hands with Partey ahead of the match against the Black Stars. Meanwhile in Ghana, National Sports Agency Director General Yaw Ankrah suggested on Joy News that the team could make Partey the captain for the match so that he would lead the handshake line and that if he was ignored, that the rest of the Black Stars refuse to shake hands out of solidarity.
When asked about the impact of Partey's absence in a press conference following the win over Panama, Quiroz gave a dismissive response.
"I think if you saw the game, then you have the answer to your question," Quiroz said. "I think you can have better questions for me, thank you."
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Ghana's Thomas Partey faces rape, sexual assault charges in the UK
Continue reading...
