Canada approves under half of World Cup fan visas

Canada approved less than half of the visitor visa applications submitted by international football fans hoping to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with approval rates varying dramatically based on applicants' countries of origin. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed approximately 17,000 applications linked to the tournament between November 2025 and March 2026, granting visas to only 41 percent of applicants from over 160 countries.

The data reveals a stark disparity tied to Canada's entry requirements. Travelers from countries eligible for the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program, which includes many European nations, Australia, and New Zealand, enjoyed a 96 percent approval rate. In contrast, applicants from countries requiring a traditional visitor visa were approved at a rate of just 32 percent.

This divide is reflected in the outcomes for specific nations. Ghana submitted the highest number of visa applications, with 1,725 requests, but fewer than 11 percent were approved. Pakistan, with 1,250 applications, had an approval rate of less than nine percent. India was the fourth-largest source of applications, with 1,225 submissions, and saw...