Twenty-five Ghanaians who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have applied for asylum, according to Canadian immigration authorities.

The applications were filed by individuals who had received temporary residence approval after indicating they were travelling to Canada in connection with the tournament, which was jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

IRCC disclosed that it approved temporary residence applications for 26,111 people who identified the FIFA World Cup as the purpose of their visit. As of July 20, 2026, 175 of those travellers had subsequently submitted asylum claims.

"Of the 26,111 individuals with prior FIFA-related approved temporary residence applications, 175 people later submitted asylum claims," IRCC said in a statement cited by Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.

Ghana and China recorded the highest number of asylum applications, with 25 claims each. Egypt and Colombia followed with 15 claims apiece, while Senegal, Bangladesh and Nigeria each registered 10 applications. Ecuador, Burundi, Nepal and Pakistan recorded five claims each.

Canadian authorities said the figures relate only to applicants who specifically identified "FIFA World Cup 26" as the purpose of their temporary residence applications. They did not disclose the identities or backgrounds of those who sought asylum, leaving it unclear whether the applicants were players, officials, support staff or supporters.

Asylum claims by visitors during major international sporting events are not uncommon. Such events often attract large numbers of international travellers, some of whom subsequently seek protection in host countries.

A similar situation occurred after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when about 200 Ghanaians reportedly applied for asylum, citing claims of religious persecution. The Ghanaian government rejected those allegations at the time.