Canada Denies Soccer Player Entry for World Cup Match

Canada has denied entry to Ghanaian soccer player Thomas Partey, which means he will miss the opening World Cup match scheduled for June 17.

The Ghanaian team was on its way to Toronto from a training camp in Rhode Island when the visa application for the 32-year-old Partey was rejected by Canadian authorities. As reported by ESPN, Partey is currently awaiting trial in London on charges that include seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.

FIFA confirmed in a statement that Partey would not be able to travel from the Ghana national team’s base in Boston to Canada for the first game against Panama. The statement noted the refusal of his visa application.

This visa issue seems to echo a wider discussion about border control, as the U.S. government was also recently criticized for blocking Somali World Cup referee Omar Altan from entering the country. Rep. Ilhan Omar referred to this act as “disgraceful.” However, it appears that Canada, like other liberal democracies, is also tightening its grip on immigration, which adds an interesting layer to the conversation.

Some might argue, perhaps, that these border decisions don’t really reflect the impact on the individuals involved, or even the principle of “open borders.” It’s almost as if these actions serve a larger narrative about making the U.S. look unwelcoming and harsh while critiquing past immigration policies.

There are certainly contrasting viewpoints—like the story of a German tourist who fell for the American South during a road trip. Opinions about borders and travel can be quite the mixed bag.