New data obtained by The Globe and Mail and corroborated by immigration-watch groups show that 175 foreign nationals who entered Canada on temporary visas to attend 2026 FIFA World Cup matches have subsequently claimed asylum. The figures, first reported late on 23 July, reveal that Ghanaian citizens account for 25 of the claims, followed by smaller numbers from Egypt, China and several Latin-American countries. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that the claimants were among 26,111 individuals issued fan, media and team-support visas linked to the tournament, which Canada co-hosted with the United States and Mexico. While the overall rate—roughly 0.7 percent of visa holders—is modest, the absolute number has reignited debate about the screening of large-event visitors and the downstream costs of lengthy asylum processing. Under current rules, visitors may file refugee claims from inside Canada provided they can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution. Most claims trigger immediate access to provincial social assistance, health coverage and, after 181 days, work permits. Fiscal analysts estimate that supporting 175 claimants for an average 18-month processing period could cost between CA$11 million and CA$17.5 million across federal and provincial budgets. Pro-immigration advocates note that “event-related” asylum claims spike after virtually every global sporting competition and argue that the numbers remain small relative to Canada’s annual intake of 80,000 asylum seekers. Critics counter that such cases strain already backlogged tribunals—where wait times exceed 24 months—and may erode public confidence ahead of Canada’s efforts to attract more high-value tourists and business conferences. IRCC says it has no plans to re-impose visa requirements on the main source countries involved but will review risk indicators before 2027’s Women’s World Cup qualifiers. In the meantime, event organisers are likely to see tighter documentation requests and enhanced exit-tracking for future high-profile tournaments.
