The beautiful game is coming to North America next summer. But for fans from dozens of countries, actually getting into Canada to watch it is proving to be anything but beautiful.

Government data shows that more than 50% of visitor visa applications linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been refused. That means the majority of people who applied to travel to Canada specifically for the tournament were told no. Canada is co-hosting the World Cup alongside the US and Mexico, with matches scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver.

Who’s getting rejected, and how badly

Ghana leads the pack in raw application volume, with 1,953 applications submitted. Of those, 1,423 were refused. That’s a rejection rate north of 72%.

Pakistan submitted 1,085 applications and saw 797 refusals, putting its rejection rate at roughly 73%. India filed 1,393 applications, with 687 turned down. Nigeria came in with 1,293 applications and 557 refusals. Colombia, despite submitting 1,793 applications (the second-highest volume), had 461 refusals, suggesting a comparatively lower rejection rate than the others on this list.

No special visa, no special treatment

There is no dedicated FIFA World Cup visa. Canada requires all visitors to go through the same immigration process as any other temporary traveler.

That means applicants from countries that require a Temporary Resident Visa, or TRV, to enter Canada must meet the same financial, employment, and ties-to-home-country standards that apply year-round.

For travelers from visa-exempt countries, the process is different. They apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization, or eTA, which is cheaper, faster, and historically approved at much higher rates.

The bigger picture on immigration and mega-events

Previous hosts have handled this differently. Russia created a Fan ID system for the 2018 World Cup that essentially served as a visa waiver for ticket holders. Qatar did something similar in 2022 with the Hayya Card, which granted entry to anyone with a valid match ticket.

Canada, so far, has opted not to go that route. The federal government has maintained that existing immigration frameworks are sufficient, and that applicants simply need to meet standard requirements.

For fans in affected countries, the practical advice is straightforward but unsatisfying: apply early, provide extensive documentation of financial stability and ties to your home country. The IRCC has reiterated the importance of applying early for those seeking to attend the matches.