Nigeria among countries whose citizens traveled for World Cup, seek to remain in Canada[Full list]

Canada is processing asylum claims from 175 individuals who initially entered the country as visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group includes citizens from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and several other nations, all seeking to remain in Canada following the conclusion of the tournament.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data shows that as of July 20, these asylum claims were filed by individuals who identified themselves as World Cup visitors in their temporary residence applications. Canada hosted 13 matches across Toronto and Vancouver during June and July, issuing over 26,000 visas for the event.

Ghana recorded the highest number of claims among World Cup visitors, with 25 Ghanaians filing refugee claims. Egypt and Colombia each had 15 claims, while Senegal accounted for 10. Notably, asylum seekers also came from countries whose national teams did not qualify for the World Cup, including Kenya, China, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Canadian authorities had warned prior to the tournament that visa applications would be scrutinized to ensure visitors intended to leave. The IRCC stated that the data only includes applicants who specifically flagged 'FIFA World Cup 26' in their applications, and the number of claims could still increase. Immigration lawyer Stephen Green commented that the number of asylum claims remains relatively low compared to the total number of visas issued.

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It is important to note that this data only includes applicants who flagged ‘FIFA World Cup 26’ in their temporary-residence applications.