Vetted by NeuralPress's Multi-Agent Verifier for strict factual validity and event relevance. Our compliance engine cross-checks and filters search results to ensure zero false correlations or misleading content, in full compliance with the Online Safety Act of Sri Lanka.
Ghana World Cup Preliminary Squad Breakdown
Distribution of players by their primary field position.
Primary Sources
Thomas Partey included in Ghana's provisional World Cup squad amid UK ...
Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey has been included in Ghana's provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup, despite an ongoing criminal case against him in the United Kingdom.The Ghana Football Association published a 28-player shortlist to begin preparations for the tournament.
Thomas Partey Named In Ghana's Preliminary World Cup Squad Despite Rape ...
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been included in Ghana’s preliminary squad for the World Cup despite facing multiple rape and sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom. Naija News reports that Thomas Partey, 32, 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. He is expected to stand trial next year. Partey spent five years at Arsenal, making 167 appearances before leaving the Premier League club at the end of last season after his contract expired. Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz included Partey in a 28-man squad for a pre-World Cup training camp and an international friendly against Wales in Cardiff on 2 June. The squad will later be trimmed to 26 players ahead of the tournament. Also included are Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City and Brandon Thomas-Asante from Coventry City. Leicester City pair Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku also made the list. One of the surprises in the squad is goalkeeper Joseph Anang, who plays for St Patrick’s Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division. However, Mohammed Kudus was left out due to the quad injury that has sidelined the Tottenham Hotspur winger since January. Ghana will open their World Cup Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June before facing England and Croatia in Foxborough and Philadelphia respectively. Ghana Preliminary World Cup Squad Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic), Solomon Agbasi (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Paul Reverson (Ajax). 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), Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre). Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City). Forwards: Kamal Deen 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).
Ghana name Thomas Partey in preliminary World Cup squad despite rape ...
Villarreal’s Thomas Partey has been named in Ghana’s preliminary 28-man World Cup squad despite being due to stand trial in the United Kingdom on rape and sexual assault charges.Ghana published its squad late on Monday night, with the team beginning a training camp in Cardiff ahead of a friendly against Wales next Tuesday.Partey, 32, left Arsenal upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, 2025, after nearly five years. The Premier League club were in talks to extend Partey’s deal, but he ultimately left on a free transfer to Spanish side Villarreal.On July 5 2025, Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. In September, he pleaded not guilty. He was charged with two new counts of rape in February this year, which he pleaded not guilty to in April.The seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault will be tried at Southwark Crown Court, London. The trial was originally scheduled for November, but may now be delayed until early 2027. Under the conditions of his bail, Partey is obliged to notify authorities of any plans to travel abroad.The initial six charges, which relate to three women, are alleged to have taken place in 2021 and 2022. Detectives at the Metropolitan Police began their investigation into Partey in February 2022 when they received a report of alleged rape. The two further charges relate to a fourth woman after a separate report of non-recent offences in 2020 and following a new investigation by the Met. These allegations were first reported to police in August 2025. Partey continued to play for Arsenal until the end of his contract, making 35 Premier League appearances in the 2024-25 season, his last at the Emirates Stadium.Ghana will be based in Providence, Rhode Island, during the World Cup and will play their group-stage matches in Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia.Guidance from the United States government says that “if you have ever been arrested, cautioned and/or convicted of an offense anywhere in the world, you are required to declare it when applying for a visa.”Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal during a five-year spell in north London (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Partey played in five of Ghana’s six World Cup qualifying matches last year, spending one on the bench. Two of the games were before his first charges were announced, while the other three came in September and October.After being omitted from the national team squad in November, he played in the March internat...
Partey in preliminary Ghana squad for World Cup
Former Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, has been named in Ghana’s preliminary squad for the World Cup. Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. The 32-year-old, who now plays for La Liga side Villarreal, is due to stand trial next year. Partey made 167 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal between 2020 and 2025, but left the Gunners last summer after his contract expired. Ghana boss, Carlos Queiroz, has named Partey in a 28-man squad for a pre-World Cup training camp and friendly against Wales in Cardiff on 2 June. ALSO READ: Spain snub Real Madrid players in World Cup squad Queiroz will have to reduce the squad to 26 players before the World Cup. Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo and Coventry striker Brandon Thomas-Asante are also included, along with Leicester duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu. Joseph Anang, who plays for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick’s Athletic, is one of five goalkeepers in the squad. Tottenham winger, Mohammed Kudus, has missed out due to a quad injury, which has kept him out of action since January. Ghana begin their World Cup Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June before they face England and Croatia in Foxborough and Philadelphia, respectively. Ghana’s preliminary World Cup squad Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic), Solomon Agbasi (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Paul Reverson (Ajax). 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), Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre). Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City). Forwards: Kamal Deen 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). Agency report
