A total of 175 people who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum, including some visitors from Nigeria.
Canadian immigration officials said the applications were submitted by foreign nationals who entered the country during the tournament, which was co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The applicants identified themselves as FIFA World Cup visitors when applying for temporary entry into Canada.
According to the figures, Ghana had the highest number of asylum applications, with 25 people seeking refugee protection after the tournament.
Egypt and Colombia each recorded 15 applications, while Senegal had 10. Ecuador recorded five asylum claims among countries whose national teams played matches in Canada.
Among visitors from countries that did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kenya had the highest number of asylum applications with 15. China, Bangladesh, and Nigeria each recorded 10 claims, while Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan each had five.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also said another five asylum applications came from travellers who entered Canada using electronic travel authorizations instead of temporary resident visas.
The department said that, as of July 20, 2026, 175 of the 26,111 people who had approved FIFA World Cup-related temporary residence applications later applied for asylum.
Officials explained that the figures only include people who indicated “FIFA World Cup 26” in their temporary residence applications. They also noted that the number could increase if more visitors remain in Canada after their visas expire and later apply for refugee protection.
Canada hosted 13 matches of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver as part of the tournament co-hosted with the United States and Mexico. More than 26,000 visas were issued to visitors connected to the competition.
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina in the final.
Asylum applications 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
