Canada Warns Fans: No ‘FIFA Visa’ for 2026 World Cup

Canada Warns Fans: No ‘FIFA Visa’ for 2026 World Cup

By BSN Sports 

The Canadian government has issued a warning to football fans worldwide as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, cautioning against visa-related scams linked to the tournament.

Authorities have clarified that no special visa — often referred to falsely as a “FIFA visa” — exists for the World Cup. Fans planning to attend matches in Canada will be admitted strictly under the country’s existing immigration rules, as regular visitors.

According to the government, entry for World Cup spectators will require either a standard visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), depending on the traveller’s nationality. There is no dedicated tourist or event-specific visa created for the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expanded tournament will feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches over 39 days.

FIFA has projected record-breaking attendance figures, with more than five million — and potentially up to 6.5 million — fans expected to attend matches across the three host nations. This would surpass the previous record of approximately 3.6 million spectators set at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Canada is scheduled to host 13 matches, with more than 650,000 visitors anticipated. Vancouver is expected to receive up to 350,000 fans, while Toronto is projected to welcome around 300,000 visitors during the tournament.

Canadian authorities also emphasised that tourist visas do not permit employment or provide a pathway to permanent residency. Fans were urged to be wary of individuals or agencies offering false guarantees of entry, jobs, or immigration opportunities tied to the World Cup.

“You’re responsible for all the information in your application, even if a representative completes it for you,” the government said in a statement, warning that inaccurate or fraudulent applications could result in a five-year ban from entering Canada.

Fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada have therefore been advised to apply only through official government channels and remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes.