Nigerians, Ghanaians among others seek to remain in Canada via asylum after 2026 FIFA World Cup

Lagos – About 175 visitors who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum, with citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and several other countries reportedly among those seeking to remain in the country after the tournament.

The claim was shared by Vanguard News in a Facebook post, which stated that a total of 175 World Cup visitors had submitted asylum applications following their arrival in Canada. The post did not provide a breakdown of applicants by nationality but indicated that Nigerians were among those involved.

Asylum applications allow individuals to request international protection if they believe they would face persecution, violence or other serious risks in their home countries. Filing an asylum claim does not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residency, as each application is assessed individually by Canadian immigration authorities.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, attracted millions of fans from around the world, making it one of the largest sporting events in history.

As of the information contained in the social media post, no official statement from the Canadian government confirming the reported figure of 175 asylum applications was included. Further details, including the nationalities of applicants and the outcome of the claims, were not provided.

Authorities have yet to release comprehensive official data regarding asylum claims linked specifically to World Cup visitors.