Canada records 175 asylum claims from visitors who identified the FIFA World Cup as the purpose of their temporary residence applications
Ten Nigerians who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum after the tournament, forming part of 175 visitors who subsequently sought refugee protection, according to figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
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The data, published by IRCC and reported by The Globe and Mail, showed that the 175 applicants had identified “FIFA World Cup 26” as the purpose of their temporary residence applications before later submitting asylum claims.
The figures were current as of July 20, 2026, and came after Canada hosted 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver as one of three co-hosts of the expanded tournament alongside the United States and Mexico.
More than 26,000 visas were issued to visitors linked to the competition, which was eventually won by Spain after a final victory over defending champions Argentina.
IRCC said the 175 asylum claims represented applicants among 26,111 individuals with prior FIFA-related approved temporary residence applications.
The department, however, cautioned that the figure did not cover every person who may have travelled to Canada for the tournament, as it only included applicants who specifically identified the World Cup in their temporary residence applications.
“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 said.
IRCC also noted that the number could rise if additional visitors remained in Canada beyond the validity of their immigration status and subsequently sought refugee protection.
Ghana recorded the highest number of asylum claims among visitors from countries whose national teams participated in matches hosted by Canada, with 25 applications.
Egypt and Colombia followed with 15 claims each, while Senegal recorded 10 and Ecuador 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 recorded 10.
Burundi, Nepal and Pakistan accounted for five claims each.
The figures also showed that an additional five asylum claims were filed by travellers who entered Canada using electronic travel authorisations rather than temporary resident visas.
The Canadian authorities did not disclose how many of the applicants were footballers, team officials, support staff or ordinary spectators, leaving the precise profile of those seeking protection unclear.
Before the tournament, Canadian immigration officials repeatedly warned prospective visitors that securing a World Cup ticket did not automatically guarantee a visa or entry into the country.
Applicants were advised that immigration authorities would carefully assess their circumstances, while travellers could be refused entry if officers were not satisfied that they intended to leave Canada at the end of their authorised stay.
The concerns were particularly relevant for countries with significant migration flows to Canada.
According to The Globe and Mail, Canadian immigration consultant Andy Semotiuk said several Ghanaian visa applicants had been refused entry permits before the tournament because authorities were concerned they might remain in the country.
Toronto-based immigration lawyer Stephen Green, however, described the number of post-tournament asylum claims as relatively low when compared with the more than 26,000 visas issued to World Cup-related visitors.
Green said the figures suggested that Canada’s pre-entry screening system had been effective in identifying travellers who were likely to comply with the conditions attached to their temporary status.
The development is not entirely unprecedented. Canada has previously recorded asylum claims connected with major international sporting events, including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, while similar patterns were reported around the 2012 London Olympics.
The latest figures nevertheless highlight the complex immigration pressures that can accompany major global sporting events, particularly when countries welcome tens of thousands of international visitors within a short period.
For Nigeria, the 10 claims recorded so far represent a small proportion of the country’s World Cup-related visitors, but they also place Nigerian travellers among those whose post-tournament immigration decisions are being closely monitored by Canadian authorities.
The figures are not, in themselves, evidence that any of the asylum claims will be successful. Each application will be considered through Canada’s established refugee determination process, with applicants required to meet the relevant legal criteria for protection.
As Canada continues to process claims arising from the tournament, the number of applicants could change, particularly if more visitors file claims after their authorised stays expire.
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For now, the data provide an early snapshot of the immigration consequences emerging after one of football’s biggest global events.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
