Nigeria is the fourth country with highest visitor visa applications and refusals to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Canada, according to a report by Toronto Star.
Despite Nigeria not qualifying for the tournament, a total of 1,293 visa applications were made, with 557 persons being refused as at march 2026..
Ghana ranks the highest for visa applications and refusals for the same tournament.
Preliminary data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows that this happened when some Nigerian applications were refused.
Ghana recorded the highest number of refusals, with 1,423 applications denied out of 1,953. Colombia followed with 1,739 applications, India recorded 1,393, while Pakistan had 1,085 applications.
Canada will host 13 matches of the 2026 World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver. Other countries whose teams will play matches in Canada include Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Iraq, Ivory Coast, New Zealand, Qatar, Senegal, Switzerland and Turkey.
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Top five countries by number of applications
Ghana — 1,953
Colombia — 1,739
India — 1,393
Nigeria — 1,293
Pakistan — 1,085
Top five countries by number of refusals
Ghana — 1,423
Pakistan — 797
India — 687
Nigeria — 557
Colombia — 461
World Cup marred by visa refusals
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has attracted thousands of football fans seeking visitor visas to Canada, including many from countries whose national teams are either not playing matches in Canada or did not qualify for the tournament.
To help authorities identify World Cup-related travellers, visitors attending matches in Toronto and Vancouver were asked to include “FIFA World Cup 26” in their visa applications or electronic travel authorisation requests where applicable.
Meanwhile, the tournament has become the centre of a diplomatic and legal dispute involving Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey.
Ghanaian officials appealed Canada’s decision to deny Partey entry into the country ahead of Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised the visa refusal, describing it as a “high-handed and extremely unfair decision”.
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Partey is currently awaiting trial in the United Kingdom over rape allegations involving several women dating back to his time with English club Arsenal between 2020 and 2025. The midfielder, who played for Spanish side Villarreal last season, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His lawyer stated in March that Partey intends to plead not guilty to two additional rape charges brought by a woman who alleges that he raped her twice on the same day in December 2020.
The player had already been awaiting trial on five counts of rape involving two other women, as well as one count of sexual assault relating to another woman. The latest allegations emerged after the original charges became public.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz included Partey in his World Cup squad, citing the legal principle of the presumption of innocence.
Jibril Rajoub, president, Palestinian Football Association has accused the United States and Canada of violating their World Cup hosting commitments after members of the Palestinian football delegation were reportedly denied visas ahead of FIFA events and the 2026 World Cup. Rajoub called the situation a “double standard,” arguing that the refusals undermine the spirit of international sport and calling on FIFA and UEFA to take action.
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The controversy adds fresh tension around preparations for the first-ever 48-team World Cup across North America.
“Since the beginning of preparations for this historic international event, I requested permission to attend most of the matches, as well as the FIFA Summit scheduled to take place in Miami. However, I have not yet received a positive response.”
“I believe this is not good for sport or for football. Other individuals, including federation presidents, referees, athletes and employees, have also been denied. I was also denied a visa by Canada, not only by the United States. This, in my view, is a violation of the commitment made when the countries received approval from the General Assembly to host the World Cup.This is completely contrary to the rules, the spirit, the commitments and the aspirations of the World Cup”, he said.
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