Vancouver, June 12 -- Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey's visa application to enter Canada has been refused, resulting in the footballer now not taking part in his side's FIFA World Cup opener against Panama on Wednesday in Toronto.

A statement by FIFA to Reuters said, "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 also said that it is "not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas".

The Canadian government has not responded to a query from Reut...