Thomas Partey In Ghana’s Final 2026 World Cup Squad Despite Pending Trial

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been included in Ghana’s final 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup, despite facing criminal charges in England.

Thomas Partey, now with Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. The 32-year-old is due to stand trial next year.

The midfielder, who made 167 appearances for Arsenal between 2020 and 2025 before leaving at the end of his contract, has retained the backing of the Ghana Football Association.

“Thomas is our vice-captain. He is one of the top midfielders in the world and we stand by him shoulder to shoulder,” Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku told BBC Sport.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz initially named Partey in a provisional 28-man squad for a pre-World Cup training camp and an international friendly against Wales in Cardiff. The former Arsenal man remained in the final selection after goalkeepers Solomon Agbasi and Paul Reverson were cut from the squad.

Ghana suffered a defensive setback ahead of the tournament, with Spartak Moscow centre-back Alexander Djiku ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury during his club’s Russian Cup final victory on 24 May.

Netherlands-born defender Derrick Luckassen has been drafted in as his replacement after making his international debut for Ghana in March.

The Black Stars squad also features Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante and Leicester City pair Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu. League of Ireland-based goalkeeper Joseph Anang earned a place among the three goalkeepers selected for the tournament.

However, Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus was left out after failing to recover from the quadriceps injury that has sidelined him since January.

Ghana open their World Cup Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June before taking on England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.

Ghana Final 26-Man World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic).

Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg), Kojo Oppong Peprah (Nice), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos).

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City).

Forwards: Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City).