Ghana's Football Association on March 24 released a provisional 28-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, which includes Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey. The 32-year-old faces seven rape charges and one count of sexual assault in the United Kingdom, linked to allegations from four different women between 2020 and 2022.
Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is expected to stand trial next year. He previously played for Arsenal from 2020 to 2025 before joining Villarreal in August 2025, just two days after being granted bail.
Despite his legal troubles, Partey has continued to feature fully for Ghana in World Cup qualifiers. He has earned 58 caps for the national team.
In other squad news, Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus is absent due to a quadriceps injury first sustained in January and aggravated during recovery. The 25-year-old has scored two goals in 19 Premier League appearances this season.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz is relying on Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) and Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) to lead the attack. Defender Abdul Rahman Baba earns his first call-up since 2023.
Ghana is placed in Group L alongside Croatia, England, and Panama. The 2026 World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghana's provisional 2026 World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Anang, Solomon Agbasi, Paul Reverson.
Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Peprah Oppong, Alexander Djiku, Elisha Owusu.
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Augustine Boakye, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Forwards: Kamaldeen Sulemana, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Prince Kwabena Adu, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew.
