A Canadian judge has not yet made a decision after listening to arguments in Thomas Partey’s emergency request to overturn the decision that stopped the Ghana midfielder from entering Canada before the Black Stars’ first match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The hearing ended on Tuesday, with both sides presenting their arguments to the court. A decision is now expected as Ghana wait to find out if one of their important players will be available for Wednesday’s Group L match against Panama in Toronto.
Lawyers for Canada’s immigration authorities argued that Partey should not be given special treatment because he is a professional footballer. They said immigration laws should apply the same way to everyone.
They also said that a criminal conviction is not needed for authorities to deny someone entry into Canada and referred to earlier legal cases to support their argument.
Government lawyers also said that details about the criminal charges Partey is facing in the United Kingdom were not fully disclosed during the visa application process.
In response to concerns from Partey’s legal team about damage to his reputation if he is later found not guilty, Canadian lawyers said any such damage would come from the UK court case and not from Canada. They added that if the midfielder is eventually cleared, he can apply to enter Canada again in the future.
The immigration authorities also disagreed with claims that refusing Partey entry would cause serious harm.
They said Ghana has played in previous FIFA World Cups without problems and pointed out that Partey played at the last tournament. They also argued that there is no guarantee he would start against Panama, making claims of major sporting damage uncertain.
Partey’s legal team rejected those arguments. They referred to previous cases where artists, actors and other public figures were given Temporary Resident Permits even while dealing with legal or immigration issues.
His lawyer asked the court to make a decision as soon as possible, saying time is very important because Ghana’s World Cup opener is only hours away. The defence also told the court that Partey is ready to follow any conditions set by authorities, including signing a formal undertaking, if he is allowed to enter Canada.
Partey remained in the United States when the rest of Ghana’s squad travelled to Toronto on Monday after Canadian authorities refused his Temporary Resident Visa.
The 32-year-old has denied all charges against him through his legal representatives, and the criminal case in the United Kingdom is still ongoing.
No date has been given for the judge’s decision, with Ghana and Partey’s legal team now waiting for the court’s ruling.
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