Overview
- Late‑June IRCC figures reported across outlets show Canada processed nearly 17,000 visitor applications flagged for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and approved about 41 percent of them.
- Approval rates varied sharply by country with Ghana at roughly 11 percent, Pakistan under 9 percent, India about 29 percent, and Colombia about 69 percent.
- Entry route was a major factor because electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) for visa‑exempt travelers were approved at about 96 percent while applicants who needed a traditional visitor visa saw roughly a 32 percent approval rate.
- IRCC reiterated there is no special ‘FIFA visa’ and warned applicants against agents promising work or settlement, noting false or forged documents can trigger refusals and multi‑year bans.
- The high refusal rate has left many fans unable to attend matches, contributed to low turnout from some countries, prompted media attention to a few high‑profile player denials, and raised calls for better cross‑border visa coordination for multi‑host tournaments.