With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in full swing, newly released IRCC statistics show that Canada approved just 41 % of the 17,000 visa and eTA applications flagged as tournament-related between mid-November 2025 and 31 March 2026. The numbers, first reported by Spanish-language sports outlet AS, reveal wide disparities among source countries: while eTA-eligible nationals such as Australians and Germans enjoyed a 96 % approval rate, Ghanaian applicants were accepted only 11 % of the time. Canada is co-hosting 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver. Unlike the United States and Mexico—whose citizens can enter visa-free—many African and Asian supporters must secure a Temporary Resident Visa. IRCC says applications that referenced “FIFA World Cup 26” were fast-tracked where possible, but security and fraud checks could not be waived.
For fans still hoping to secure last-minute travel documents, VisaHQ’s online platform can simplify the Canadian visa or eTA application process. Its guided forms, document checklists and real-time support help applicants avoid the errors and missing paperwork that often lead to IRCC refusals; tour groups and corporate sponsors can even track multiple files from a single dashboard. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The department attributes low approval rates to incomplete documentation and doubts about applicants’ intent to leave after the tournament. For tour operators and event sponsors, the figures translate into lost ticket sales and unexpected cancellations. Industry groups are urging Ottawa to adopt a dedicated fan visa—similar to schemes used at past World Cups—to provide clearer guidance and uniform processing. Local businesses, especially in hospitality, worry that the visitor shortfall could blunt projected tourism gains. Toronto hoteliers had expected occupancy to hit 90 % during match days; revised forecasts now sit closer to 75 %. IRCC insists the pipeline is improving: nearly half of all pending “World Cup 26” files have been finalised since April, and an additional 5,000 applications are being assessed under a dedicated triage team established this month.
For fans still hoping to secure last-minute travel documents, VisaHQ’s online platform can simplify the Canadian visa or eTA application process. Its guided forms, document checklists and real-time support help applicants avoid the errors and missing paperwork that often lead to IRCC refusals; tour groups and corporate sponsors can even track multiple files from a single dashboard. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
The department attributes low approval rates to incomplete documentation and doubts about applicants’ intent to leave after the tournament. For tour operators and event sponsors, the figures translate into lost ticket sales and unexpected cancellations. Industry groups are urging Ottawa to adopt a dedicated fan visa—similar to schemes used at past World Cups—to provide clearer guidance and uniform processing. Local businesses, especially in hospitality, worry that the visitor shortfall could blunt projected tourism gains. Toronto hoteliers had expected occupancy to hit 90 % during match days; revised forecasts now sit closer to 75 %. IRCC insists the pipeline is improving: nearly half of all pending “World Cup 26” files have been finalised since April, and an additional 5,000 applications are being assessed under a dedicated triage team established this month.
