25 Ghanaians among 175 World Cup visitors who sought asylum in Canada
Twenty-five Ghanaians who travelled to Canada on visas to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup have filed asylum claims, according to a report by The Globe and Mail.
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicates that Ghanaians recorded the highest number of asylum applications among visitors who entered the country for the tournament.
The Black Stars opened their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, one of the cities that hosted matches during the competition.
In total, 175 individuals who obtained visas linked to the World Cup have submitted asylum claims, following Canada’s issuance of about 26,000 visitor visas for fans attending the 13 matches held in Toronto and Vancouver.
Other African countries also recorded asylum applications among World Cup visitors. Egypt, whose team played New Zealand in Vancouver on June 21, recorded 15 claims, while Senegal, which faced Iraq in Toronto on June 26, had 10 claims.
IRCC said the number of asylum applications could rise further, as some foreign nationals may remain in Canada beyond the validity of their visas and later apply for refugee protection.
The report noted that asylum claims were also filed by visitors from countries whose national teams did not participate in the tournament, including 15 Kenyans, 10 Nigerians, and five each from Burundi and Nepal.
In a statement, IRCC said that 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, however, did not disclose whether any of the claims were filed by players, officials or support staff connected to participating teams.
Ahead of the World Cup, Canadian immigration authorities had cautioned ticket holders that visa applications could be rejected or entry denied at the border if officials suspected that applicants might not return home after the tournament.
A Canadian immigration consultant cited by The Globe and Mail said some Ghanaian applicants were denied visas before the competition.
The situation has drawn comparisons with previous major international sporting events. During the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, 22 people sought asylum in Canada, including several Ghanaians, while 82 athletes and officials applied for asylum in the United Kingdom during the 2012 London Olympic Games.