Nigerians among World Cup visitors seeking asylum in Canada
A total of 175 visitors who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum, with 10 claims from Nigerians, according to official figures. The data, released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, highlights that the majority of claims came from Ghana, Egypt, and Colombia. Canadian authorities emphasized that having a World Cup ticket did not guarantee entry, and visa applications were closely scrutinized. Immigration experts noted that the number of asylum seekers was relatively low compared to the over 26,000 visas issued.
Match highlights
- July 20, 2026 figures showed 175 World Cup visitors filed for asylum in Canada, including 10 Nigerians.
- Ghana led with 25 asylum claims, while Egypt and Colombia each had 15; Senegal and Nigeria both recorded 10.
- Over 26,000 visas were issued to visitors linked to the tournament, which Canada co-hosted with the United States and Mexico.
- Canadian officials stressed that visa applications were carefully reviewed, and entry was not guaranteed by match tickets.
- Immigration lawyer Stephen Green described the asylum claim numbers as low, citing effective screening by authorities.
