The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With 104 games, 48 teams, and millions of expected spectators, public health officials are already working through how to manage the risks that come with an event this size.
The opening match features Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. According to a report by Healthline, public health experts say the tournament may test the established playbook for protecting people during large-scale mass gatherings.
Heat has historically been the biggest threat at summer tournaments. William Schaffner, MD, a professor of medicine, health policy, and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, pointed to what past games have shown. "The most common issue was heat-related illness, with falls, diabetes, seizures, and chest pain also noteworthy," he said. Most matches take place outdoors during summer months, which puts fans at direct risk if temperatures rise.
Despite broader alarm over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, experts say the risk of the virus spreading at the World Cup remains low. A separate report from CIProud.com noted that the Central Africa outbreak could reach 20,000 cases without strong public health measures, adding to concerns about international travel and disease movement. Still, Schaffner said American hospitals are equipped to handle any imported case. "The risk of importing Ebola is very low. If such should occur, with heightened awareness, the patient should be diagnosed promptly and can be cared for safely by U.S. hospitals and personnel using rigorous infection control procedures," he said.
Measles is another concern. All three host countries have seen recent resurgences of the disease, which spreads easily and can be deadly among people who are not vaccinated. Even so, experts say transmission at the games is unlikely to be widespread. Schaffner acknowledged the possibility but kept the risk in context. "It is possible that there could be importations of measles or other vaccine-preventable illnesses," he said. "Given the less-than-optimal vaccination rates in the U.S., there could be limited spread to unvaccinated persons. This would be detected quickly and would evoke a public health response."
Other rare diseases like hantavirus have also been mentioned in public conversations, but experts say those are unlikely to circulate during the tournament. Respiratory illnesses more broadly remain a possibility given the scale of international travel and crowded stadiums, but no specific pathogen has been flagged as a primary concern beyond influenza and common respiratory viruses.
The CDC and other federal agencies are developing plans ahead of the tournament. Schaffner described the coordination as consistent with past practice. "A fundamental concept is preparation — planning by all the relevant agencies. We have done this well before and ought to be able to manage the World Cup events also," he told Healthline.
For fans attending games, preparation matters. Staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, keeping up with recommended vaccinations, and monitoring personal health before and during travel are among the steps health experts recommend. The tournament runs for five weeks, with the final scheduled for July 19.
