One of Ghana’s most high-profile football stars, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, has been selected for the West African nation’s preliminary squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a decision that comes as the 32-year-old prepares to stand trial on multiple sexual offense charges next year.
Partey, who currently plies his trade for Spanish La Liga club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal this past summer when his contract at the North London side expired, has formally pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one additional count of sexual assault. The charges stem from allegations made by four separate women dating back to incidents between 2020 and 2022. His trial is scheduled to get underway in 2026.
Across his five-year tenure with Arsenal between 2020 and 2025, Partey earned 167 appearances across all domestic and European competitions for the Gunners. Capped 58 times for Ghana to date, the midfielder currently serves as vice-captain of the national team, a status the Ghana Football Association has reaffirmed in the wake of the charges.
“Thomas is our vice-captain. He is one of the top midfielders in the world and we stand by him shoulder to shoulder,” GFA President Kurt Okraku told BBC Sport in a public statement confirming the association’s support for the player.
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz named Partey as part of his 28-man preliminary group for a pre-World Cup training camp, which will be capped off with a friendly fixture against Wales in Cardiff on June 2. Queiroz is required to cut his final roster down to the 26-player limit mandated by FIFA before the tournament kicks off.
Alongside Partey, other notable call-ups include Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Leicester City pair Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu. Five goalkeepers were included in the preliminary squad, among them Joseph Anang, who currently plays for League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick’s Athletic. The only major absentee from the group is Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus, who has not featured since January due to a persistent quad injury.
Ghana will kick off their Group L campaign at the 2026 World Cup against Panama in Toronto on June 17, before subsequent group stage matches against England in Foxborough and Croatia in Philadelphia respectively.