Ghana soccer player Thomas Partey has been denied a visa to participate in his team’s opening 2026 FIFA World Cup game in Canada. According to reports , the midfielder for La Liga club Villarreal CF will miss next week's game between Ghana and Panama after facing seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault in the United Kingdom. According to ESPN , Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges and awaits trial, which was pushed from November to June 8, 2027. A hearing in the case is set for October 2. In a statement shared with The Atlantic , FIFA confirmed that Partey will be unable to participate in the June 17 game after his visa application was refused by the Canadian government. The soccer player was formerly a member of Arsenal from 2020 to 2025. "FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas," the statement said.…