Former Arsenal player, Thomas Partey has been ruled out of Ghana's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama after the Canadian government denied his visa application.
The news was confirmed by the world football governing body FIFA on Friday, June 12, 2026. As a result, the midfielder will be unable to travel from Ghana's training base in Boston to Toronto for the Group L opener.
What did FIFA say about Thomas Partey?
FIFA confirmed that visa and immigration decisions are the s
Former Arsenal player, Thomas Partey has been ruled out of Ghana's opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Panama after the Canadian government denied his visa application.
The news was confirmed by the world football governing body FIFA on Friday, June 12, 2026. As a result, the midfielder will be unable to travel from Ghana's training base in Boston to Toronto for the Group L opener.
What did FIFA say about Thomas Partey?
FIFA confirmed that visa and immigration decisions are the sole responsibility of host governments and are outside the governing body's control.
"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 is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country."
The 32-year-old remains eligible for Ghana's other group-stage matches in the United States, including fixtures against England and Croatia.
Reports are indicating that the visa refusal is linked to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where Partey has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. Canadian authorities have not publicly commented on the specific reason for the decision.
Here are the fixtures to be played, results and the current group standings table at the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is beginning to take shape as the group stage gathers momentum, with several teams already making strong starts in their quest for a place in the knockout rounds.
Opening-round fixtures have produced early winners and losers, setting up intriguing battles in the race for qualification. Here are the latest results, upcoming fixtures and the current standings acr
Here are the fixtures to be played, results and the current group standings table at the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is beginning to take shape as the group stage gathers momentum, with several teams already making strong starts in their quest for a place in the knockout rounds.
Opening-round fixtures have produced early winners and losers, setting up intriguing battles in the race for qualification. Here are the latest results, upcoming fixtures and the current standings across the groups as the tournament unfolds.
Despite the fact that the exit was officially approved due to personal reasons, the Real Madrid star was later spotted in Madrid with his partner. This has led some supporters to question his priorities, with critics arguing that he is placing his personal life ahead of his responsibilities to the national team.
According to reports Morocco will be getting a new head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup and his name has now been revealed.
Walid Regragui has vacated his role as the head coach of the Morocco national team with immediate effect with a new marshal set to take over before the 2026 World Cup.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the 50-year-old tactician reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract this week, following a period of intense speculation that began after
According to reports Morocco will be getting a new head coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup and his name has now been revealed.
Walid Regragui has vacated his role as the head coach of the Morocco national team with immediate effect with a new marshal set to take over before the 2026 World Cup.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the 50-year-old tactician reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract this week, following a period of intense speculation that began after Morocco’s narrow defeat to Senegal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
While Regragui’s tenure will be forever defined by the historic 2022 World Cup semi-final run in Qatar, reports suggest "mental exhaustion" and a desire to return to European club football led to his decision to step down just months before the 2026 World Cup.
The federation has moved with clinical speed to identify a successor, with Mohamed Ouahbi emerging as the definitive choice to lead the Atlas Lions into the upcoming tournament in North America.
Ouahbi, a Belgian-Moroccan specialist who recently catapulted his stock by leading the Moroccan U-20 squad to a World Cup title in October 2025, is expected to be officially unveiled this Thursday.
To bolster his transition into the senior role, the FRMF is reportedly surrounding him with a high-caliber technical staff, including former Jose Mourinho assistant João Sacramento and Moroccan legend Youssouf Hadji.
With high-profile friendlies against Ecuador and Paraguay scheduled for late March, Ouahbi faces an immediate baptism of fire to stabilize a squad that is also navigating the recent international retirement of long-time captain Romain Saïss.
Here are key details such as fixtures, clubs that have qualified, groups, standing and results fans should know about the 2025 Club World Cup.
This year’s Club World Cup marks a historic expansion from its previous 7-team format, showcasing club football on a truly global stage. With champions from every continent and some of the biggest names in football going head-to-head, the tournament promises high-stakes drama, world-class performances, and unforgettable moments across iconic U.S. venue
Here are key details such as fixtures, clubs that have qualified, groups, standing and results fans should know about the 2025 Club World Cup.
This year’s Club World Cup marks a historic expansion from its previous 7-team format, showcasing club football on a truly global stage. With champions from every continent and some of the biggest names in football going head-to-head, the tournament promises high-stakes drama, world-class performances, and unforgettable moments across iconic U.S. venues.
Groups for Club World Cup 2025
Manchester City players
This expanded edition will feature 32 clubs for the first time, divided into eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the Round of 16. The tournament promises an exciting blend of elite teams from every continent, including UEFA Champions League winners, Copa Libertadores champions, and top-ranked clubs from Africa, Asia, and beyond.
Here are the groups for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup:
The world football governing body, FIFA, has officially released the full list of fixtures for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to take place in the United States from June 15th to July 13th, 2025.
Below is the complete group stage schedule, categorized by date, with kickoff times in BST:
Group Stage Fixtures – All Times in BST
Sunday, June 15
Group A: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 1am
Group C: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; 5pm
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 8pm
Group A: Palmeiras vs Porto – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 11pm
Monday, June 16
Group B: Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders – Lumen Field, Seattle; 3am
Group D: Chelsea vs TBC – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 8pm
Group C: Boca Juniors vs Benfica – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 11pm
Tuesday, June 17
Group D: Flamengo vs Espérance de Tunis – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 2am
Group F: Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 5pm
Group E: River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds – Lumen Field, Seattle; 8pm
Group F: Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando; 11pm
Wednesday, June 18
Group E: CF Monterrey vs Inter Milan – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 2am
Group G: Manchester City vs Wydad AC – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 5pm
Group H: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 8pm
Group H: CF Pachuca vs FC Salzburg – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; 11pm
Thursday, June 19
Group G: Al Ain vs Juventus – Audi Field, Washington D.C.; 2am
Group A: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 5pm
Group A: Inter Miami vs Porto – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 8pm
Group B: Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid – Lumen Field, Seattle; 8pm
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain vs Botafogo – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 11pm
Friday, June 20
Group C: Benfica vs Auckland City – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando; 5pm
Group D: Flamengo vs Chelsea – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 7pm
Group D: TBC vs Espérance de Tunis – GEODIS Park, Nashville; 10pm
Sunday, June 15
Group A: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 1am
Group C: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; 5pm
Group B: PSG vs Atletico Madrid – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 8pm
Group A: Palmeiras vs Porto – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 11pm
Monday, June 16
Group B: Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders – Lumen Field, Seattle; 3am
Group D: Chelsea vs TBC – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 8pm
Group C: Boca Juniors vs Benfica – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 11pm
Tuesday, June 17
Group D: Flamengo vs Espérance de Tunis – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 2am
Group F: Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 5pm
Group E: River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds – Lumen Field, Seattle; 8pm
Group F: Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando; 11pm
Wednesday, June 18
Group E: Monterrey vs Inter Milan – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 2am
Group G: Man City vs Wydad AC – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 5pm
Group H: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 8pm
Group H: CF Pachuca vs FC Salzburg – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; 11pm
Thursday, June 19
Group G: Al Ain vs Juventus – Audi Field, Washington, D.C.; 2am
Group A: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 5pm
Group A: Inter Miami vs Porto – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 8pm
Group B: Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid – Lumen Field, Seattle; 8pm
Group B: PSG vs Botafogo – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 11pm
Friday, June 20
Group C: Benfica vs Auckland City – Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando; 5pm
Group D: Flamengo vs Chelsea – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 7pm
Group D: TBC vs Espérance de Tunis – GEODIS Park, Nashville; 10pm
Saturday, June 21
Group C: Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 2am
Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; 5pm
Group E: Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds – Lumen Field, Seattle; 5pm
Group F: Fluminense vs Ulsan HD – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 11pm
Group E: River Plate vs Monterrey – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 11pm
Sunday, June 22
Group G: Juventus vs Wydad AC – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 5pm
Group H: Real Madrid vs CF Pachuca – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte; 8pm
Group H: FC Salzburg vs Al Hilal – Audi Field, Washington, D.C.; 11pm
Monday, June 23
Group G: Man City vs Al Ain – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 2am
Group B: Seattle Sounders vs PSG – Lumen Field, Seattle; 5pm
Group B: Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 5pm
Tuesday, June 24
Group A: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 2am
Group A: Porto vs Al Ahly – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 2am
Group C: Auckland City vs Boca Juniors – GEODIS Park, Nashville; 7pm
Group C: Benfica vs Bayern Munich – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte; 8pm
Wednesday, June 25
Group D: TBC vs Flamengo – Camping World Stadium, Orlando; 2am
Group D: Espérance de Tunis vs Chelsea – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 2am
Group F: Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati; 8pm
Group F: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 8pm
Group E: Inter Milan vs River Plate – Lumen Field, Seattle; 11pm
Group E: Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey – Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles; 11pm
Thursday, June 26
Group G: Juventus vs Man City – Camping World Stadium, Orlando; 8pm
Group G: Wydad AC vs Al Ain – Audi Field, Washington, D.C.; 8pm
Group H: Al Hilal vs CF Pachuca – GEODIS Park, Nashville; 1am
Friday, June 27
Group H: FC Salzburg vs Real Madrid – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 2am
Knockout Stage – Round of 16
Saturday, June 28
Match 49: Group A winners vs Group B runners-up – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 5pm
Match 50: Group C winners vs Group D runners-up – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte; 9pm
Sunday, June 29
Match 51: Group B winners vs Group A runners-up – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 5pm
Match 52: Group D winners vs Group C runners-up – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 9pm
Monday, June 30
Match 53: Group E winners vs Group F runners-up – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte; 8pm
Tuesday, July 1
Match 54: Group G winners vs Group H runners-up – Camping World Stadium, Orlando; 2am
Match 55: Group H winners vs Group G runners-up – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami; 8pm
Wednesday, July 2
Match 56: Group F winners vs Group E runners-up – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 2am
Quarter-finals
Friday, July 4
Match 57: Winner Match 53 vs Winner Match 54 – Camping World Stadium, Orlando; 8pm
Saturday, July 5
Match 58: Winner Match 49 vs Winner Match 50 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; 2am
Match 59: Winner Match 51 vs Winner Match 52 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta; 5pm
Match 60: Winner Match 55 vs Winner Match 56 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 9pm
Semi-finals
Tuesday, July 8
Match 61: Winner Match 57 vs Winner Match 58 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 8pm
Wednesday, July 9
Match 62: Winner Match 59 vs Winner Match 60 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 8pm
Final
Sunday, July 13
Match 63: Winner Match 61 vs Winner Match 62 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey; 8pm
Here are platforms showing the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 which commenced today, Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Nigeria.
Nigerian football fans can look forward to watching the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as it will be officially broadcast in Nigeria on major cable and streaming platforms.
The expanded 2025 edition of the Club World Cup will feature 32 of the world’s top football clubs competing in the United States, marking the biggest version of the tournament to date.
What ch
Here are platforms showing the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 which commenced today, Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Nigeria.
Nigerian football fans can look forward to watching the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as it will be officially broadcast in Nigeria on major cable and streaming platforms.
The expanded 2025 edition of the Club World Cup will feature 32 of the world’s top football clubs competing in the United States, marking the biggest version of the tournament to date.
What channel will show the club world cup 2025?
DStv, GOtv, and StarTimes will provide live TV coverage of all the matches to be played in the Club World Cup 2025 across their various sport channels ensuring wide access across households in the country.
Where to watch the Club World Cup 2025 online
In addition to cable TV, football fans ij Nigeria can also stream or watch the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 tournament online via Showmax and StarTimes’ streaming service, offering even more flexibility for viewers on the go.
With these broadcasting deals, Nigerian fans won’t miss a moment of the action as champions from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and beyond battle for global supremacy.
The FIFA Club World Cup has always been dominated by the for over a decade from Real Madrid to Manchester City, Bayern Munich, UEFA teams have won the last 10 editions.
This dominance shows a clear gap in quality, depth, and resources between the European clubs and the rest of the world when it comes to the FIFA club. However, with the new 32-team format launching this year (2025), there’s hope for change with more knockout matches which could lead to surprises, and upset but breaking Europe’
The FIFA Club World Cup has always been dominated by the for over a decade from Real Madrid to Manchester City, Bayern Munich, UEFA teams have won the last 10 editions.
This dominance shows a clear gap in quality, depth, and resources between the European clubs and the rest of the world when it comes to the FIFA club. However, with the new 32-team format launching this year (2025), there’s hope for change with more knockout matches which could lead to surprises, and upset but breaking Europe’s grip won’t be easy.
Out of the last 10 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup (2013–2023), European clubs have won all 10, which includes Real Madrid (5 titles) with Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City among the others. No team outside Europe has lifted the trophy since Corinthians (Brazil) beat Chelsea in 2012.
Which clubs will overthrow Europe at the FIFA Club World Cup?
(1) South America:
Palmeiras, Fluminense, and Flamengo remain the most credible challengers. They possess quality, passion, and continental pedigree, though recent finals have shown the pace gap.
(2) Al Ahly (Egypt)
The most decorated club, Al Ahly, has consistently impressed at the competition. Their third-place finishes and wins over clubs like Monterrey and Palmeiras prove they can compete on their day.
(3) MLS Clubs
With the tournament on U.S. soil, MLS sides like Seattle Sounders or Inter Miami may ride a wave of home support.
(4) Middle East Clubs
Clubs from the Saudi Pro League backed by state funding and now housing global stars may provide surprise results, though cohesion and experience remain concerns.
Prediction:
The dominance of the European clubs is not just about better footballers; it’s about systems, support, and global football hierarchy. It will take more than just one good performance from the rest of the teams to break the dominance of the European countries.
When is the Club World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup will start from June 15 2025 to July 13 2025.
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