Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not take part in their World Cup game against Panama on Wednesday after his visa application to enter Canada was refused, FIFA said on Friday.
"FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana's Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government," FIFA said in a statement to Reuters.
"FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas."
The Canadian government did not immediately respond to an email query from Reuters.
Partey is with the rest of the Ghana squad in Boston and will be eligible to play in their subsequent Group L matches against England in the city and versus Croatia in Philadelphia.
The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who now plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom. He has denied the charges.
Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland as captain Boualem Khoukhi headed in a stoppage-time equaliser to send the Gulf nation into jubilation on Saturday.
George Russell seized pole position for a race that could snap championship-leading teammate Kimi Antonelli's winning streak while Lewis Hamilton split the Mercedes pair in Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
Captain Shubman Gill's unbeaten 84 secured a seven-wicket win for India over Afghanistan, as the hosts chased down a target of 195 with 13 balls to spare in a rain-delayed one-day international (ODI) in Dharamshala that was shortened to a 25-over contest.
Croatia's Donna Vekic revived memories of her deep run at Wimbledon two years ago when she thrashed Britain's Katie Boulter to reach the Queen's Club Championships semi-finals on Saturday.
Cheered on by a partisan home crowd, Britain's Emma Raducanu battled past Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova to reach the Queen's Club Championships semi-final on Saturday and set up a clash later in the day against American teenage sensation Iva Jovic.
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