Last Updated: July 6, 2026
Newly released figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have brought fresh attention to how Canada’s visitor visa process affected international supporters during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The data indicates that many fans who hoped to attend matches in Canadian host cities were unable to obtain visas, prompting discussion about the role immigration systems play when countries host major global sporting events.
According to the reported IRCC figures, Canada approved about 41% of World Cup-related visitor visa applications. Approval rates varied significantly depending on the applicant’s country of residence and whether they qualified for Canada’s electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program or required a traditional visitor visa.
Ghanaian Supporters Faced the Highest Rejection Rate
The reported data shows that applicants from Ghana experienced the lowest approval rate among the countries included in the figures. Only around 11% of Ghanaian visitor visa applications linked to the tournament were approved, while roughly 89% were refused.
The figures became a talking point as Ghana remained competitive during the tournament. The Black Stars defeated Panama before earning a draw against England, yet many supporters were reportedly unable to travel to Canadian venues to watch those matches in person.
Although visa decisions are based on individual applications rather than sporting events, the unusually low approval rate has raised questions about whether fans from some countries faced greater barriers to attending the tournament.
Overall Approval Rate Remained Below Half
The reported overall approval rate of 41% means that most World Cup-related visitor visa applications submitted to Canada were not approved. Immigration decisions are made under Canada’s existing immigration laws and are assessed individually based on documentation, financial circumstances, travel plans and an applicant’s intention to leave Canada after their visit.
IRCC has stated that attending a sporting event does not automatically qualify someone for a visa. Every applicant must meet the country’s standard entry requirements before a visitor visa can be issued.
Official information about eligibility, required documents and processing is available through the Government of Canada’s visitor visa guidance.
eTA Travellers Had a Much Higher Success Rate
The largest difference in approval outcomes was between travellers eligible for Canada’s electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system and those who needed a standard visitor visa.
According to the reported figures, travellers using the eTA process achieved an approval rate of approximately 96%, compared with about 32% for applicants who required a visitor visa.
This gap reflects the different immigration pathways available to travellers based on their nationality and passport eligibility rather than the event they planned to attend.
Among the countries referenced in the data, Colombia recorded one of the highest reported visitor visa approval rates at approximately 69%, despite not having group-stage matches scheduled in Canadian host cities.
World Cup Applications Were Asked to Be Clearly Identified
During the tournament, Canadian authorities advised applicants travelling for football matches to include the phrase “FIFA World Cup 2026” in their visitor visa application. The recommendation was intended to help identify applications connected with the tournament during processing.
However, identifying a trip as World Cup-related did not change the legal assessment of an application. Applicants still needed to satisfy all normal immigration requirements before a visa could be approved.
Why the Numbers Matter Beyond the Tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the first edition of the competition to feature 48 national teams, with matches hosted across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The expanded format increased international travel and placed additional focus on border procedures and visa processing.
For future international tournaments, these figures highlight how immigration policies can influence attendance alongside ticket availability, accommodation and transport planning. Fans hoping to travel for major sporting events are generally advised to begin visa applications well before purchasing non-refundable travel arrangements.
Supporters following the remainder of the competition can view every upcoming fixture, host city and knockout match through the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule.
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