A total of 175 foreign nationals who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum, with Nigerians among those seeking refugee protection after the tournament.
Canadian immigration authorities confirmed that the asylum claims were filed by visitors who entered the country during the World Cup, which Canada co-hosted with the United States and Mexico. The applicants reportedly identified themselves as FIFA World Cup visitors in their temporary residence applications.
According to the figures, Ghana recorded the highest number of asylum claims among participating countries, with 25 visitors seeking refugee status. Egypt and Colombia each registered 15 claims, while Senegal recorded 10 and Ecuador five.
Among visitors from countries that did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup but travelled to Canada during the tournament, Kenya recorded the highest number of claims with 15. China, Bangladesh, and Nigeria each accounted for 10 asylum applications, while Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan registered five claims apiece.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also disclosed that five additional asylum claims were submitted by travellers who entered the country using electronic travel authorisations instead of temporary resident visas.
Responding to enquiries about the figures, the department said, “As of July 20, 2026, of the 26,111 individuals with prior FIFA-related approved temporary residence applications, 175 people later submitted asylum claims.
“It is important to note that this data only includes applicants who flagged ‘FIFA World Cup 26’ in their temporary residence applications.”
IRCC added that the number could rise if more visitors overstay their visas and subsequently apply for asylum.
Canada hosted 13 matches of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver, issuing more than 26,000 visas to visitors connected to the tournament.
Spain won the competition after defeating defending champions Argentina in the final.
Asylum claims by nationality:
- Ghana — 25
- Egypt — 15
- Colombia — 15
- Kenya — 15
- Senegal — 10
- China — 10
- Bangladesh — 10
- Nigeria — 10
- Ecuador — 5
- Burundi — 5
- Nepal — 5
- Pakistan — 5
