LISTA COMPLETA: I nigeriani tra i 175 visitatori della Coppa del Mondo che cercano asilo in Canada

As of July 20, 2026, 175 individuals who attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada have submitted asylum claims, with 10 of them being Nigerian nationals, according to official records from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These figures, obtained through reports from The Globe and Mail, reveal that some of the visitors who arrived for the international soccer tournament have sought refuge in Canada following its conclusion. The 2026 World Cup was held across three nations, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with Canada hosting 13 matches in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. Over 26,000 temporary visas were granted to individuals connected to the event, which saw Spain emerge victorious after defeating Argentina in the final. However, the immigration authority has not specified how many of these asylum seekers were participants, supporters, or other attendees. Among the countries represented in the asylum claims, Ghana led with 25 applications, followed by Egypt and Colombia with 15 each. Senegal had 10 claims, and Ecuador contributed five. For countries whose teams did not qualify for the tournament but still sent visitors to Canada, Kenya had 15 claims, while China, Bangladesh, and Nigeria each had 10. Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan each accounted for five asylum applications. In addition to those who entered via traditional visas, five more individuals used electronic travel authorisations to enter Canada and later filed asylum requests. According to IRCC, the current count does not include all potential cases, as some individuals who overstayed their visas may yet submit asylum claims. Prior to the World Cup, Canadian officials had cautioned that having a ticket to a match did not ensure visa approval or entry into the country. Authorities emphasized that visa applications would undergo thorough review, and individuals suspected of intending to stay beyond the event’s duration could face denial of entry. This approach appears to have been effective, as the number of asylum claims remains relatively small compared to the total number of visas issued. Immigration consultant Andy Semotiuk had previously indicated that some Ghanaian applicants faced visa denials due to concerns about their intent to remain in Canada. Lawyer Stephen Green noted that the post-event numbers reflect successful vetting processes by Canadian immigration officials. This pattern of asylum claims following large-scale international events is not unprecedented in Canada. Similar occurrences were documented after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, indicating a recurring trend associated with high-profile global gatherings. The breakdown of asylum claims by nationality shows a mix of participating and non-participating countries. Among the latter, Kenya, China, Bangladesh, and Nigeria each had 10 claims, highlighting that even those not directly involved in the tournament found themselves among the asylum seekers. Countries like Burundi, Nepal, and Pakistan each had five claims, further illustrating the diverse origins of those seeking asylum after attending the World Cup. Canadian immigration authorities continue to monitor the situation, noting that the number of asylum claims could rise if more individuals decide to pursue refugee status after overstaying their visas. As of now, the data reflects the initial wave of applications following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.