Former Arsenal Midfielder Partey Named In Ghana Squad Ahead Of World Cup

Ghana has officially included former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey in its preliminary squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, a decision that has attracted major attention across the football world. The 32-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was named in Ghana’s provisional 28-man squad announced by head coach Carlos Queiroz ahead of next month’s tournament.

Partey’s inclusion has become one of the most discussed football stories because the player is currently facing serious legal charges in the United Kingdom. The Ghana international has pleaded not guilty to seven rape charges and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. Despite the ongoing legal case, Ghana’s football authorities decided to keep him in the squad due to his importance and experience in midfield.

The former Arsenal player left the English club in 2025 after spending five seasons in the Premier League. Shortly after his departure, Partey signed for Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga. Since joining the Spanish side, he has remained a regular performer and continued playing for Ghana during World Cup qualification matches. Officials within the Ghana Football Association reportedly believe his leadership and experience could be important during the tournament.

Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz announced that the squad will first attend a training camp in Cardiff before playing a friendly match against Wales on June 2. The coach will then reduce the squad from 28 players to the final 26-man list before the World Cup officially begins. Several experienced players and rising young stars were included in the preliminary squad as Ghana prepares for one of the toughest groups in the tournament.

One major absence from the squad is Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus, who has been ruled out due to a long-term quad injury. Kudus has not played since January after suffering complications during recovery. His absence is considered a major setback for Ghana because he has been one of the team’s most important attacking players in recent years. Ghana will now rely more heavily on players such as Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams to lead the attack during the competition.

Ghana has been placed in a difficult World Cup group alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. Football analysts believe the African side will need experienced players like Partey and Jordan Ayew if they hope to reach the knockout stage. Ghana is preparing for its fifth appearance in FIFA World Cup history and hopes to improve on its disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The decision to include Partey has also created debate among football fans and social media users. Some supporters believe players should continue representing their national teams until proven guilty in court, while others argue that football associations should take stronger ethical positions in such cases. So far, the Ghana Football Association has not released a detailed public statement addressing the controversy surrounding the midfielder’s selection.

Despite the controversy, Partey remains one of Ghana’s most experienced international footballers. Since making his national team debut in 2016, he has become a key figure for the Black Stars and has played in major tournaments including the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup. Ghanaian supporters will now wait to see whether he makes the final squad and what role he could play during the tournament next month.