Canada warns of misleading videos targeting World Cup travellers: no “FIFA visa” and tickets don’t guarantee entry

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published January 31, 2026

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has warned that misleading videos and posts are circulating on social media with inaccurate claims about travelling to Canada during the FIFA World Cup 26. The department is urging travellers to rely on official government information and channels.

IRCC’s Help Centre states there is no special visa for visitors coming to Canada for the tournament. Travellers must apply for either a visitor visa or an eTA depending on their citizenship and how they travel, and holding match tickets does not guarantee approval of a visa or eTA application.

IRCC also notes that applicants may type “FIFA World Cup 26” in the free-text space of their eTA or visitor visa application for tracking purposes only, and that this does not provide priority processing or any guarantee. It advises applying as early as possible and checking processing times when planning travel.

On work-related claims, IRCC says whether a work permit is needed depends on whether a person has been invited directly by FIFA or on the type of work to be performed at the event, underscoring that attending matches as a visitor does not automatically grant work rights.

Canada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver between June 11 and July 19, 2026.