Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country's opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry to Canada.
Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He is scheduled to stand trial next year.
In a statement, FIFA confirmed that the former Arsenal midfielder, now with Spanish club Villarreal, would be unable to travel from Ghana's training base in Boston because his visa application had been refused by the Canadian government.
World football's governing body added: "FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. The host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country."
Canadian government guidance states that individuals who have committed or been convicted of a crime may be deemed inadmissible to the country. While Partey has not been convicted and continues to deny all charges, he remains awaiting trial.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said: "Canada is proud to be a host country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians. 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."
A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said the United States was aware of the pending court case involving Partey but noted that he had been admitted to the country after receiving a visa. The spokesperson added that admissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and that questions regarding Canada's decision should be directed to Canadian authorities.
