As millions of football fans from around the world prepare to attend this summer's FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, government officials and public health experts are closely monitoring potential health risks, according to a report from independent.co.uk. Concerns have been raised about the spread of infectious diseases in crowded stadiums, extreme heat during matches, and the challenge of maintaining food safety standards for countless visitors.
"Of course, any time so many people are travelling, there's always the possibility of various outbreaks or whatnot to happen," said Jay Bhattacharya, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), earlier this month. "But the risk is not any different than it is in other World Cups that we've managed properly. And the United States has systems in place to make sure that if something happens, that we respond appropriately."
Tournament Schedule and Ticket Sales
Scheduled from June 11 to July 19, the quadrennial football tournament will be held in 16 host cities across the three nations. A record-setting 104 matches will be played by 48 teams. According to FIFA, five million tickets have already been sold.
Infectious Disease Risks
Experts note that the proximity of thousands of international fans during matches could increase the risk of infectious disease transmission. "This has been something that the medical community near the World Cup venues has been preparing for," said Andy Pekosz, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University. He pointed out that active infections are circulating in other nations.
"The best example is influenza," Pekosz said, "which is circulating in some countries in the Southern Hemisphere (South America), and so it may be that some influenza-infected individuals can get to the US/Canada/Mexico and perhaps spread the infection. However, conditions aren't really ideal for influenza spread in the US/Canada/Mexico, so I wouldn't imagine a very big outbreak there."
Measles, on the other hand, is cause for more concern — since it spreads easily and has a lengthy incubation period, he added. As of May 21, nearly 2,000 measles cases were reported in the U.S. this year, according to the CDC. Since January 2025, there have been 3,564 cases, the largest number in an outbreak in decades, according to Harvard University research, which notes that vaccination rates among children have declined in recent years.
Hantavirus and Ebola Concerns
At the same time, the CDC has stated that the risk posed to travelers and the broader public by the deadly hantavirus remains "extremely low." An outbreak of the rare illness was linked to a Dutch cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, where three people have died and nearly a dozen cases have been confirmed or are suspected. This week, 18 American passengers who were on board returned to the U.S. and are now being quarantined in medical facilities in Nebraska. The CDC says the strain tied to the outbreak can spread from person to person, though transmission requires close contact with someone showing symptoms.
This week, the CDC also implemented enhanced travel screenings and entry restrictions to prevent Ebola — which officials say is spreading rapidly in the Congo — from entering the U.S. Officials have said the risk of mass spread from Ebola in the U.S. remains low.
Extreme Heat Risks
Extreme heat is another risk being closely watched, especially because the tournament will be played in summer, including in several warmer-climate cities. In Houston and Miami, the average high temperatures in June are in the mid-80s, according to the National Weather Service. Monterrey, Mexico, is even hotter, with June averages in the mid-90s, according to Weather Spark.
"Heat exposures will likely be sufficiently hot to increase the risk of adverse health problems at many venues," said Christopher Uejio, a Florida State University professor who researches environmental health. "While some locations will have climate-controlled settings, fans and spectators may still face heat risks from waiting in lines outside of venues." He added that in non-climate-controlled settings, hot, humid, and sunny conditions may increase heat-related risks, particularly among people with existing health conditions, those drinking alcohol, and tourists not acclimated to local heat levels. Uejio advised fans to stay hydrated, limit alcohol intake, use sun protection, and seek cooler places if they experience cramps, nausea, dizziness, or excessive sweating.
Food Safety Measures
Another issue being monitored is food safety — at least in several of the U.S. host cities. Food inspectors in Georgia have been dispatched to restaurants, food trucks, and even temporary tents to ensure health standards are followed. "We check to make sure they have the proper barrier around the food service area," said Brandon Leftwich, director of environmental health for Fulton County. He added that temperature controls are being enforced to prevent the spread of bacteria. "This is the biggest event in Atlanta since the 1996 Olympics," Leftwich noted. "We've been preparing for quite some time now."
There are 250 foodborne illnesses acknowledged by the World Health Organisation. Of those, the CDC lists Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Norovirus, Shigella, and Hepatitis A as those most likely to trigger outbreaks. Riskier foods include raw or undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, cut melon, and raw dough, according to the CDC.
