Nigerians Among 175 Asylum Seekers Post World Cup in Canada

As of July 20, 2026, a total of 175 visitors who identified themselves as attendees of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada have filed for asylum, with Nigerians accounting for 10 of these claims. The figures were released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and reported by The Globe and Mail.

The tournament, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, saw 13 matches held in Toronto and Vancouver, with over 26,000 visas issued to visitors. Ghana recorded the highest number of asylum claims at 25, followed by Egypt and Colombia with 15 each, and Senegal with 10.

The IRCC noted that the number of asylum seekers could rise if more visitors overstayed their visas. Canadian authorities had warned that holding a World Cup match ticket did not guarantee visa approval, and visa applications were scrutinized to prevent individuals from remaining in Canada post-tournament.

Immigration consultant Andy Semotiuk and lawyer Stephen Green commented on the low number of claims relative to the visas issued.