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Canada

175 World Cup visitors apply for asylum in Canada, officials say

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175 World Cup

OTTAWA: A total of 175 foreign nationals who traveled to Canada to attend FIFA World Cup matches have applied for asylum, according to Canadian authorities.

Canada hosted 13 World Cup matches and issued approximately 26,000 visitor visas for the tournament. Officials said more than half of all visa applications received for the event were rejected.

Authorities said the 175 asylum claims will be assessed individually under Canada’s immigration and refugee laws. They did not disclose how many of the applicants, if any, were football players or members of official delegations.

Available government data showed that 25 applicants are Ghanaian nationals, while 15 each are from Egypt and Colombia. Officials added that the number of asylum applications could increase as more claims are submitted.

Before the tournament, the Canadian government warned that visitor visas issued for the FIFA World Cup could not be used as a pathway to permanent residence or guaranteed asylum. It said all protection claims would be evaluated solely in accordance with Canadian law.

Round of 16 begins at FIFA World Cup 2026

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Round of 16

NEW YORK: The FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its Round of 16 on Saturday, with the tournament’s remaining 16 teams beginning the race for a place in the quarterfinals after an expanded knockout stage narrowed the field.

Following the group stage and the newly introduced Round of 32, co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico advanced alongside Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France, England, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Egypt, Argentina and Colombia.

The Round of 16 opens Saturday with Canada facing Morocco in Houston, while Paraguay takes on France in Philadelphia.

On Sunday, Brazil will meet Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium before Mexico hosts England at Mexico City Stadium.

Monday’s schedule features an all-European clash between Portugal and Spain in Dallas, followed by the United States against Belgium in Seattle.

The final two Round of 16 matches will be played Tuesday, with Argentina facing Egypt in Atlanta and Switzerland taking on Colombia in Vancouver.

The winners of the eight matches will advance to the quarterfinals as the tournament moves closer to the July 19 final.

Ali Zafar sets record with massive 45,000-strong concert in Canada

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Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar: Pakistani singer, actor and musician Ali Zafar has set a new record with a historic open-air concert in Canada, drawing an estimated 45,000 fans in a landmark musical event.

The concert was held at Celebration Square in Mississauga, a major public venue that was declared by organizers as hosting its largest-ever musical gathering.

Due to the overwhelming turnout, crowds spilled beyond the square into surrounding streets and nearby areas.

The show marked the closing performance of Ali Zafar’s “Lights Tour 2026” North America leg and was attended by fans from across the South Asian diaspora, including Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The audience included families, children and people of all ages.

A highlight of the night came when Ali Zafar performed his popular song “Jhoom,” prompting thousands of fans to light up their mobile phone torches, turning the venue into a sea of lights.

The singer also stepped down from the stage to interact with fans, drawing enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.

Speaking during the event, he emphasized unity, cultural pride and mutual respect, urging people to stay connected to their roots while respecting individual choices and freedoms.

The concert concluded with fans continuing to sing along, with organizers describing it as one of the most memorable cultural events in Mississauga’s history.