At least 10 Nigerians are among 175 visitors who travelled to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and subsequently filed claims for refugee protection.
According to figures released by Canadian immigration authorities, the asylum claims were submitted by foreign nationals who entered the country using temporary residence visas linked to the football tournament.
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revealed that Ghana recorded the highest number of claims with 25, while Nigeria, China, and Bangladesh each registered 10 applications.
Canadian officials noted that the total number of claims could increase as authorities continue to monitor visitors who entered the country during the tournament.
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