Thomas Partey debuts at World Cup amid handshake row

Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey made his first appearance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, June 23, in a match against England at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The match was overshadowed by a pre-game incident where England defender Djed Spence appeared to refuse to shake Partey's hand, and the 33-year-old was met with loud boos from sections of the pro-England crowd.

Partey, who now plays for Spain's Villarreal, was making his tournament debut after being denied entry to Canada for Ghana's opening match against Panama last week. Canadian authorities rejected his visa application after it was revealed he had not disclosed pending criminal charges. A last-minute legal appeal was also rejected. He was, however, granted a visa to enter the United States for the England match.

The midfielder is facing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom, having been charged with multiple counts of assault and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial is scheduled for 2027.

Ahead of kickoff, the traditional pre-match handshake became a focal point. Footage from...