Nigerians Among 175 FIFA World Cup Visitors Seeking Asylum in Canada
A total of 175 visitors who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum after the tournament, with Nigeria among the countries whose citizens filed refugee claims, according to official figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The figures, published by the IRCC and reported by The Globe and Mail, showed that as of July 20, 2026, 175 people who identified themselves as FIFA World Cup visitors in their temporary residence applications had subsequently sought asylum.
Canada co-hosted the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, hosting 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver. More than 26,000 visas were issued to visitors linked to the tournament.
The IRCC said it could not disclose how many of the asylum seekers were football players, team officials, support staff or ordinary fans.
Among participating countries, Ghana recorded the highest number of asylum claims with 25, followed by Egypt and Colombia with 15 each. Senegal recorded 10 claims, while Ecuador had five.
Among countries that did not qualify for the tournament but whose citizens travelled to Canada during the World Cup period, Kenya recorded 15 asylum claims. China, Bangladesh and Nigeria each accounted for 10 claims, while Burundi, Nepal and Pakistan recorded five each.
The department also disclosed that an additional five asylum claims were submitted by travellers who entered Canada using electronic travel authorisations rather than temporary resident visas.
In a statement, the IRCC 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.”
The department noted that the number of asylum claims could increase if more visitors overstayed their visas and later sought refugee protection.
Before the tournament, Canadian authorities repeatedly warned that possessing a World Cup match ticket did not guarantee a visa or entry into the country, stressing that visa applications would be carefully scrutinised and travellers could be denied entry if immigration officers believed they might not leave Canada after the competition.
According to The Globe and Mail, Canadian immigration consultant Andy Semotiuk had disclosed before the tournament that several Ghanaian visa applicants were refused entry permits over concerns they might remain in Canada.
Toronto-based immigration lawyer Stephen Green described the post-tournament asylum figures as relatively low compared to the more than 26,000 visas issued, saying they reflected effective screening by Canadian immigration authorities.
Canada has previously experienced asylum claims linked to major international sporting events, including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.
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