Immigration Department on alert for asylum claims during World Cup

Well, will likely be some:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is closely scrutinizing visa applications from soccer fans planning to attend the World Cup, to prevent people from entering the country with the aim of claiming asylum.

Officials are warning that ticketholders could be refused visas or turned away by border agents if it is feared they may not return home after the international soccer tournament ends this summer.

Canada, the United States and Mexico are co-hosting the event, organized by soccer’s international governing body, FIFA. Thirteen World Cup matches will be played in Toronto and Vancouver in June and July.

Among the national teams that will play here, in addition to Canada, are Germany, Ghana, Panama, Australia, Qatar, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

FIFA says it has received over 500 million ticket requests for 2026 World Cup

As Canada prepares to welcome thousands of fans to the tournament, immigration officials are warning that coming here to attend matches is not an avenue to refugee status.

Source: Immigration Department on alert for asylum claims during World Cup