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Ghana's World Cup group stage encounter with England on Tuesday is being held in the United States, a country for which Thomas Partey had already secured the required visa, allowing the controversial former Arsenal midfielder to be included in the starting lineup.
Partey has been under intense public scrutiny since it emerged last summer that he had been charged with several counts of rape by London's Metropolitan Police. The 33-year-old, whose Arsenal contract ended three days before the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) made the case public, has entered a not guilty plea and denies every allegation.
The trial is not set to begin until June 2027. Partey has continued competing at the highest level of club soccer, featuring for Villarreal in Spain's top division and the Champions League before now making his first World Cup appearance of the tournament.
What Has Thomas Partey Been Accused of?
A CPS statement issued in July 2025 disclosed that Partey "has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. These allegations involve three separate women who reported incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2022."
In February 2026, the CPS added two additional rape charges relating to a fourth woman, stemming from alleged offenses in 2020 following a separate investigation.
In response to the updated charges, Partey's defense attorney Jenny Wiltshire issued a statement: "Thomas Partey maintains his denial of all charges. He has fully cooperated with police throughout the process. Given the ongoing legal proceedings, no further comment will be made."
Why Was Thomas Partey Not Allowed to Play in First World Cup Game?
Partey received a visa to enter the U.S. and join Ghana's World Cup base in Boston, but was unable to accompany the squad to Canada for their opening fixture against Panama after being refused the required entry documents.
His visa application was denied—along with a subsequent appeal from the Ghanaian government—because "the applicant failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the U.K."
The charges themselves were not necessarily the determining factor; rather, it was the inaccurate information Partey provided in his application that led to the rejection.
Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision as a "high-handed and extremely unfair ruling."
Why Is Thomas Partey Allowed to Play World Cup Games in the U.S.?
Partey was permitted to enter the U.S. based on the fundamental principle that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. White House World Cup task force member Andrew Giuliani elaborated on this to The Athletic: "When you see something like this—again, these charges are heinous, right? But it's important to let the legal process play out.
"It's fascinating we're having that conversation as we're talking about our 250th birthday, because the incredible foresight that our founding fathers had, certainly in our due process rights, I think is highlighted."
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also released a statement clarifying the decision: "The U.S. is aware of the pending court case involving Mr. Partey. However, as he has not been convicted of any crime at this time, he was admitted to the United States following the issuance of a visa.
"Admissibility decisions are made on an individual basis using available law enforcement, national security, and immigration information at the time of inspection. CBP defers to Canada regarding questions about his denial of entry there."