Partey booed by England fans before World Cup 2026 clash with Ghana in Boston

Thomas Partey was loudly booed by England fans when his name was read out over the PA system before Ghana’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L clash with England in Boston, with England’s players shaking hands with the Villarreal midfielder as part of the pre-match formalities.

The 33-year-old had been denied entry to Canada for Ghana’s opening group game against Panama, a rejection that triggered an appeal and a court hearing in Ottawa. It is alleged that whoever completed Partey’s visa application failed to disclose that he had been arrested and charged with a crime. Partey is due to stand trial in the United Kingdom next year after pleading not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault between 2020 and 2022.

Speaking at Ghana’s Rhode Island training base at Bryant University earlier in the week, Partey addressed the visa saga with composure. “I think it’s part of football, things happen in football that you cannot control,” he said. “For me now, I feel ready to play. I’m okay, I’m feeling good. We’ve been training well, and everybody is ready. We are here to try our best and compete with the rest of the teams and I think preparation is key.”

England midfielder Declan Rice, who played alongside Partey at Arsenal, acknowledged the Ghanaian’s quality ahead of the fixture. “I’ve played with him at Arsenal, he’s a really good player,” Rice said during England’s pre-match press conference. “I’ve also played against many of the Ghana team and from the clips we’ve studied, I know what they’re going to bring: strength, pace and the counter-attack.”

Partey joined Villarreal on a free transfer after leaving Arsenal last summer, making 32 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga club last season without scoring. His contract at Villarreal is due to expire this summer and is not expected to be renewed.