World Cup leads to 175 asylum claims from visitors in Canada

Well-supported — high-quality sources agree

What we can confirm

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as reported by The Globe and Mail, 175 individuals who obtained temporary resident visas to attend FIFA World Cup 26 matches in Canada have subsequently filed asylum claims, out of 26,111 people with prior FIFA‑related approved temporary residence applications as of July 20, 2026.[1][3] IRCC explicitly provided this figure and timeframe, and multiple outlets summarizing Canadian immigration policy around the tournament reference the same official data.[1][4][6] No credible source disputes these reported numbers, and they are based on IRCC’s official statement, so there is strong evidence that the specific claim about 175 asylum claims from World Cup‑linked visitors is accurate.

Sources

Checked July 23, 2026