Toronto: Citizens from approximately 12 countries have filed for asylum in Canada following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. These claims are part of a larger group of 175 asylum applications submitted by foreign nationals who initially entered Canada on temporary residence permits linked to the global football event.
According to Ghana Web, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that a total of 26,111 individuals were granted temporary residence permits after indicating their travel to Canada was connected to the World Cup. The IRCC specified that these figures only account for applicants who cited 'FIFA World Cup 26' as the reason for their temporary stay.
The Canadian government has yet to announce its decision regarding these asylum requests, leaving applicants uncertain about whether they will be permitted to stay or required to return to their home countries. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has not issued any response as the application processes continue.
Among the asylum seekers, Ghana and China top the list with 25 applicants each, followed by citizens from Colombia, Nigeria, Ecuador, Nepal, and Burundi. Other countries represented include Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The full list of asylum applications by country includes Ghana and China (25 each), Egypt, Colombia, and Kenya (15 each), Senegal, Bangladesh, and Nigeria (10 each), and Ecuador, Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan (5 each).