A total of 175 visitors who went to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have asked for asylum after the tournament. Among them, 10 are Nigerians, according to official numbers from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The IRCC released the figures, which were also reported by The Globe and Mail. As of July 20, 2026, 175 people who identified as FIFA World Cup visitors in their temporary residence applications later filed for asylum.
Canada hosted the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Mexico. The country held 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver. Over 26,000 visas were given to visitors for the tournament.
Spain won the tournament, beating the defending champions, Argentina, in the final.
The immigration department did not say how many of the asylum seekers were players, team officials, support staff, or regular fans.
The data showed that Ghana had the most asylum claims, with 25 visitors seeking refuge after the tournament.
Egypt and Colombia each had 15 claims, while Senegal had 10. Ecuador had five claims from visitors whose national teams played in Canada.
Among those who did not qualify for the tournament but visited Canada during this time, Kenya recorded 15 asylum claims. China, Bangladesh, and Nigeria each had 10 claims.
Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan each had five claims as well.
IRCC also mentioned that five more asylum claims came from travelers who entered Canada using electronic travel authorizations, not temporary resident visas.
In response to questions about the numbers, 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."
The department added that this data only includes applicants who marked ‘FIFA World Cup 26’ in their temporary residence applications.
They pointed out that the number could still go up if more visitors overstayed their visas and then filed for asylum.
Before the tournament, Canadian officials warned that having a World Cup match ticket did not guarantee a visa or entry into Canada.
They said visa applications would be carefully checked, and travelers could be denied entry if immigration officers thought they might not leave Canada after the tournament.
The Globe and Mail reported that Canadian immigration consultant Andy Semotiuk revealed before the tournament that some Ghanaian visa applicants were denied entry due to fears they might stay in Canada.
Toronto immigration lawyer Stephen Green said the post-tournament numbers are low compared to the over 26,000 visas issued. He noted that this shows the effectiveness of Canadian immigration screening.
Canada has seen similar asylum claims related to big sports events before, including during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.
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