World Cup 2026: Thomas Partey ready to play against England
Elena López
— · 2 min read
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey has said he is ready to play against England after being barred from entry for their World Cup opener in Canada. The 33-year-old Partey, who has previously played for Arsenal, missed Ghana's win against Panama last week as he was unable to arrive in the UK due to ongoing legal proceedings. The party has pleaded not guilty to power charges and one count of sexual assault under the impeachment rules by four separate women between 2020 and 2022 and are due to face trial next year. They told authorities that they had never been arrested or charged with a crime, but had not been granted entry into Canada. However, they hope to be able to play against England in Boston on Tuesday. "It's part of football," Partey said. "There are things outside of football that you cannot control. For me now I feel fine and ready to play." US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said last week that "the United States is aware of Mr. Party's case. However, at this time, he has not been found guilty of a crime and has been issued a visa." Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz said his players are "fully motivated" to play against England. "It's the easiest type of match, because when you're ready to play against England, France or Germany, you don't have to tell the players anything," he added. "Everyone is totally switched on and everyone wants to do well."
