Twenty-five Ghanaians who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The applications form part of 175 asylum claims filed by foreign nationals who entered Canada after receiving temporary residence approval linked to the global football tournament hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
IRCC said it approved temporary residence applications for 26,111 people who indicated that they were travelling to Canada in connection with the World Cup.
However, as of July 20, 2026, 175 of those individuals had submitted asylum applications.
“Of the 26,111 individuals with prior FIFA-related approved temporary residence applications, 175 people later submitted asylum claims,” IRCC said in a statement cited by Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.
The Canadian immigration authorities explained that the figures only cover applicants who specifically stated “FIFA World Cup 26” as the purpose of their temporary residence applications.
Ghana was among the countries with the highest number of asylum claims, recording 25 applications, the same number as China.
Egypt and Colombia followed with 15 claims each, while Senegal, Bangladesh and Nigeria recorded 10 applications each.
Ecuador, Burundi, Nepal and Pakistan each recorded five asylum claims.
Canadian authorities did not disclose the identities or backgrounds of the applicants, including whether they were footballers, team officials, support staff or fans who travelled to watch the tournament.
Asylum applications by visitors who enter countries during major international sporting events are not unusual.
Following the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, about 200 Ghanaians reportedly sought asylum in the country, citing claims of religious
