World Cup visitors file 175 asylum claims in Canada; 25 Ghanaians among applicants

Newly released Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data reveal that 175 foreign nationals who entered Canada on special ‘World Cup visas’ have since claimed asylum—equivalent to roughly 0.7 % of the 26,111 temporary residents approved to attend matches in Vancouver and Toronto between 11 June and 19 July. Ghana tops the list with 25 claimants, according to a Globe and Mail investigation summarised by several Ghanaian news outlets. The figures land as Ottawa and host municipalities conduct a post-tournament audit of security and immigration controls. Officials stress that most fans departed on schedule, calling the asylum rate “well within historical norms” for large sporting events. Yet critics argue the numbers expose loopholes in visitor screening and could fuel calls for tighter visa vetting ahead of the 2028 Summer Games bid. Under Canadian law, anyone physically present in the country can seek refugee protection, even if they entered on a visitor visa. Claims from World Cup spectators will be triaged by the Immigration and Refugee Board, where current wait-times average 24 months. Claimants are eligible for work permits after 180 days, creating a labour-market pull factor that provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia say strains social services. For global mobility managers, the episode is a cautionary tale. Companies that sponsored employee travel packages to matches should track departures to avoid inadvertent overstays, which can trigger future visa refusals. Travel insurers may also tighten fine print around sporting-event coverage if asylum-related absences void return-travel clauses. IRCC maintains that most applications underwent enhanced screening, including biometric checks and watch-list vetting. But with only eight days between the semi-final and the final, officials had little time to review late-breaking visa files. Ottawa is now considering mandatory exit records—long championed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer—as a legacy measure before Canada co-hosts the 2030 Winter Olympics bid.