Canadian immigration officials have made a clear announcement for fans visiting the country to watch FIFA matches. They warn that coming to Canada for the tournament is not a way to claim asylum. Visitors must leave once their visa period ends. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will carefully check visa applications. If officials suspect someone might stay illegally after the matches, they can refuse the visa. At the border, agents have the power to refuse entry if doubts arise. A spokesperson, Isabelle Dubois, told the Globe and Mail, “Events such as FIFA tournaments are not an avenue to seek asylum. Individuals who overstay their authorized period of stay in Canada become inadmissible and may face enforcement action, including the refusal of future immigration or visa applications.” IRCC will screen visitors both when they apply and when they arrive to make sure fans are genuine visitors. Looking back, about 22 people sought asylum after coming for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. These visitors came from nine countries including Ghana, Hungary, Mongolia, Russia, and Japan. Toronto immigration lawyer Stephen Green told Globe and Mail, “Just because they are coming for the World Cup, the application is no different from someone coming to visit Niagara Falls. I would hope that they would stick to the same high standards.” He said officers will apply the same rules for FIFA fans as for any tourist, checking if they have strong ties to their home country. Another immigration lawyer, Erin Simpson, mentioned some challenges. She said applicants from Iran and Cuba with strong home country ties were sometimes wrongly refused. This raises concerns about possible misjudgments during visa checks.