Canada Receives 25 Ghanaian Asylum Claims Linked to 2026 World Cup

Canada has received 25 asylum applications from Ghanaian nationals who entered the country on temporary residence permits tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada co‑hosts with the United States and Mexico. The applications are part of 175 asylum claims filed by visitors who were approved for temporary entry—totaling 26,111 individuals—specifically for the tournament. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not disclosed the backgrounds of the applicants, noting they could be fans, players, officials or support staff. The phenomenon of asylum requests during major sporting events mirrors a similar pattern after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when about 200 Ghanaians sought refuge, a claim later rejected by Ghana's government.