175 FIFA World Cup Visitors Have Filed Asylum Claims in Canada, IRCC Confirms
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has confirmed that 175 people who entered Canada on temporary residence approvals tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup have since filed asylum claims. The figures were shared by IRCC in a statement reported by The Globe and Mail, and they cover the period up to July 20, 2026.
According to Canada.ca, 26,111 individuals had approved temporary residence applications that flagged “FIFA World Cup 26” as their reason for travel. Of that group, 175 people later submitted asylum claims, a figure IRCC says represents about 0.67 percent of all approved applications. The department noted this data only includes applicants who specifically flagged the World Cup in their visa or travel authorization applications, and that the number could still rise, including from visitors who overstay their visa terms and later file a claim.
Ghana recorded the highest number of claims among visiting nations, with roughly 25 Ghanaian nationals seeking asylum after entering Canada. Ghana’s national team played its opening match against Panama in Toronto on June 17. Egypt, Kenya, and Colombia followed with approximately 15 claims each. Egypt played New Zealand in Vancouver on June 21, while Colombia faced Switzerland in Vancouver on July 7. Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, and Senegal each recorded roughly 10 claims, and Burundi, Nepal, Pakistan, and Ecuador each saw about 5. Senegal’s team played its final group-stage match against Iraq in Toronto on June 26. A smaller number of additional claims came from nationals of countries including Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan, rounding out the total of 175.
IRCC also confirmed that 170 of the 175 claimants entered Canada on temporary resident visas, while the remaining 5 arrived using an electronic travel authorization. The department said it could not provide a breakdown showing how many claimants were spectators versus players, coaches, team staff, FIFA officials, or accredited contractors, and stressed that its figures are operational and subject to change.
Canada co-hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Mexico, and issued visitor visas for the 13 matches played in Toronto and Vancouver. Before the tournament, IRCC had warned ticket holders that they could be refused a visa or turned away at the border if officers suspected they might not return home once the event ended, and the department has said it closely scrutinized visa applications tied to the tournament for this reason. Some Ghanaian applicants were reportedly refused visas ahead of the tournament for this same concern, according to an immigration consultant quoted by The Globe and Mail.
This is not the first time a major international sporting event hosted in Canada has led to a wave of asylum claims. When Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, 22 people filed asylum claims, including several Ghanaian nationals. A similar pattern followed the 2012 London Olympics, where 82 athletes and officials sought asylum in the United Kingdom, and after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, roughly 200 Ghanaians reportedly applied for asylum there as well, citing claims the Ghanaian government dismissed at the time as unfounded.
Ottawa has also recently tightened its rules around asylum claims more broadly, barring individuals who have been in Canada for more than a year from a hearing before the independent tribunal that decides refugee cases. IRCC has not disclosed the specific grounds cited by the 175 claimants, nor whether any of the claims have been accepted or rejected.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many people filed asylum claims after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada?
According to IRCC, 175 people who had approved temporary residence applications linked to the World Cup later filed asylum claims, as of July 20, 2026. This represents about 0.67 percent of the 26,111 individuals approved for FIFA-related travel to Canada.
Which country had the most asylum claims among World Cup visitors?
Ghana recorded the highest number, with roughly 25 Ghanaian nationals filing asylum claims after entering Canada for the tournament. Egypt, Kenya, and Colombia followed with approximately 15 claims each.
Can visiting a country on a visitor visa and later claiming asylum affect future visa applications?
IRCC has not detailed individual consequences for these specific claimants, but generally, a prior asylum claim or a history of overstaying a visa can affect the outcome of future visa or immigration applications, since officers assess an applicant’s travel and immigration history as part of their decision.
Did Canada refuse visas to any World Cup ticket holders before the tournament?
Yes. IRCC had warned ticket holders in advance that they could be refused a visa or denied entry at the border if officers believed they might not return home after the tournament. Some applicants, including some from Ghana, were reportedly refused visas on these grounds.
Has this happened before at other major international sporting events?
Yes. Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics saw 22 asylum claims, the 2012 London Olympics saw 82 claims from athletes and officials in the UK, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil saw roughly 200 asylum claims from Ghanaian nationals.