BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

Uzbekistan will complete a historic journey when they make their FIFA World Cup debut against Colombia in Group K.

The Central Asian nation is the last of the tournament’s four debutants to take the field and will be eager to announce themselves on football’s biggest stage with a positive result.

Standing in their way is an experienced Colombian side making its seventh World Cup appearance. Colombia have built a reputation for entertaining football and attacking intent, reflected in a remarkable statistic: none of their previous 22 World Cup matches has ended goalless.

The South Americans will be expected to control possession and dictate the tempo, but Uzbekistan’s disciplined defensive structure and enthusiasm could make them difficult opponents.

A positive result would represent a landmark achievement for Uzbekistan, while Colombia will be keen to avoid an upset and begin their quest for a deep tournament run with three points.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

Democratic Republic of Congo coach Sebastien Desabre has vowed that his side will play without fear and take calculated risks when they face Portugal in their opening Group K match of the FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance at the tournament in 52 years.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Desabre said his players were ready to embrace the challenge of facing a star-studded Portuguese side led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo and hoped to capitalise on the tendency of heavily favoured teams to start tournaments slowly.

“What we have to do is to deal with the pressure, the pressure of the first game,” Desabre told reporters. “I want my team to play, so we’ll take risks. Those risks will be measured.

“There’s no fear ahead of those big events.”

DR Congo are making their first World Cup appearance since competing as Zaire at the 1974 finals in West Germany. That campaign ended in disappointment, with the team losing all three matches, conceding 14 goals and failing to score.

Desabre believes this generation is far better equipped to compete on the world stage, pointing to a squad packed with players performing in Europe’s top leagues.

The French coach highlighted the pace and quality of his attackers as weapons that could trouble Portugal’s defence, while also expressing satisfaction that all members of his squad are fit and available, giving him a range of tactical options.

“We also have a great strength that we’ll be using on the pitch, and we’re going to get started with our own specific style of play, and we are, of course, highly motivated, and we are excited to play against such a big team,” he said.

“So there are different options. We will start with one option, and based on the balance of power, we’ll see.”

The Ebola outbreak in the country complicated the Congolese preparations, although Desabre said the impact on the squad was limited because most players are based in Europe.

Travel restrictions linked to the outbreak are expected to reduce the number of Congolese supporters able to attend matches in North America. Still, Desabre said his players remained inspired by the backing of millions at home.

“We have 100 million Congolese people who will be watching us,” he said. “Of course, we want to perform well. We want to show courage. And we’ll do our best on the pitch.”

After Portugal, DR Congo will continue their Group K campaign against Colombia and Uzbekistan as they seek to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER, CANADA

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the Black Stars’ opening FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Panama after Canadian authorities rejected his visa application, citing his failure to disclose ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.

Partey, 33, was denied entry into Canada ahead of Wednesday’s Group L clash in Toronto after immigration officials determined that he had incorrectly stated in his visa application that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime.

According to a ruling by a federal court in Ottawa, which dismissed an appeal seeking to allow the player temporary entry for the match, there was “no serious issue in the underlying refusal” of the visa application. The court found that Partey “failed to disclose that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK”.

The former Arsenal midfielder, now with Spanish club Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022. He is scheduled to stand trial next year.

Canada’s immigration authorities maintained that hosting a major sporting event such as the World Cup does not exempt visitors from the country’s immigration requirements.

“Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada’s immigration laws,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement. “Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.”

IRCC officials had earlier raised concerns about whether Partey had met the requirement to answer questions truthfully on his application. The court ruling noted that under Canadian immigration law, a criminal conviction is not necessary for a person to be deemed inadmissible.

The judgment stated that “having reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed is sufficient” to deny entry.

The Ghanaian government had sought special permission for Partey to enter Canada solely for the World Cup fixture, but the request was unsuccessful.

The decision contrasts with that of the United States, which allowed Partey entry for matches scheduled on American soil.

In a statement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it was aware of the pending court case but noted that the player had not been convicted of any crime and had been granted a visa.

“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” CBP said, adding that questions regarding the Canadian refusal should be directed to Canadian authorities.

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz had selected Partey in his World Cup squad despite the legal proceedings and remained hopeful of a favourable outcome until the final decision was delivered.

“My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” Queiroz said on Tuesday. “We are waiting for a decision. When the decision arrives, we are ready.”

Partey’s absence is a significant blow to Ghana, for whom he has earned more than 50 caps since making his international debut in 2016.

After facing Panama in Toronto, Ghana will continue their World Cup campaign in the United States, taking on England in Boston on June 23 before meeting Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27. The Black Stars could return to Canada in the knockout stage should they advance as runners-up in Group L.

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