Former Arsenal star Thomas Partey will play no part in Ghana’s first World Cup game in Toronto after being denied entry to Canada.
It comes as the former Gunners midfielder, now of Villarreal, awaits a UK trial accused of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
He has pleased not guilty to all charges and is expected to go on trial in June 2027.
Partey, 32, was included in his country’s squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico earlier this month and arrived in Washington D.C. with team-mates on June 4.
The Ghana team travelled to their training base in Rhode Island on Friday.
But a statement from Fifa confirmed he had not been able to travel to Canada for Ghans' first game of the tournament against Panama on Wednesday.
A FIFA statement given to The Athletic said: “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.
"FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
Ghana are in Group L at the tournament, with England, Croatia and Panama.
Following the meeting with Panama, Ghana play England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27 so is expected to feature in those games as they are in the US.
Partey faces allegation of rape and sexual assault by four different women, who accuse him over incidents between 2020 and 2022.
He was charged in July last year an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, with further charges added in February this year.
