At least 10 Nigerians, 25 Ghanaians, and 10 Senegalese citizens are among 175 individuals who traveled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and subsequently filed for asylum, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Breakdown by Country
IRCC figures show that the applicants identified the World Cup as their reason for travel before later seeking protection. Other countries represented include Egypt (15), Colombia (15), Kenya (15), China (10), Bangladesh (10), Burundi (5), Nepal (5), Pakistan (5), and Ecuador (5).
The 175 asylum claims represent a small fraction of the over 26,000 World Cup-related temporary residence applications approved by Canadian authorities. Officials did not specify whether the applicants were fans, team officials, volunteers, or other visitors.
Asylum Process in Canada
Submitting an asylum claim does not automatically grant refugee status. Applicants must undergo Canada’s refugee determination process, where claims are assessed on whether they meet legal protection requirements. A claim may be accepted, rejected, or withdrawn.
Canada allows individuals already in the country to apply for asylum if they fear persecution or serious risk in their home country. Each claim is evaluated individually by IRCC.
Implications
The figures have drawn attention as applicants entered Canada for a specific event yet later requested protection. While the numbers are small relative to total visitors, they highlight the intersection of international sporting events and migration. IRCC emphasizes that all claims are processed fairly under Canadian law.
