Canada approved only about 41% of nearly 17,000 World Cup-linked visitor visa applications, leaving thousands of football fans shut out of the tournament.
Thousands of football fans dreaming of Canada’s World Cup matches just hit a wall.
According to CTV News, Canada rejected more than half of nearly 17,000 World Cup visitor visa applications, with an overall approval rate of about 41%.
The pain wasn’t spread evenly. Colombia had the highest approval rate at 69%, while applicants needing standard visitor visas fared far worse than those using the eTA system, where approval rates topped 96%.
The gap has fueled fresh debate over Canada’s visa system, with critics warning it could dent the fan experience at football’s biggest stage — especially since Ottawa had urged applicants to flag “FIFA World Cup 2026” on their forms to boost their odds.
Canadian authorities continue urging early applications, CTV News reported.
NEWS NOW:
