As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, public health experts are warning that the massive global gathering could facilitate the spread of infectious diseases. Matches will take place across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11, drawing millions of fans through airports, stadiums and public transport.
While large-scale outbreaks are rare at such events, the concentration of travellers creates opportunities for disease transmission. The most probable threats are respiratory infections, particularly measles, which is surging across North America. As of June 4, the US has confirmed 2,030 measles cases in 2026, nearing the total for all of 2025. Measles is among the most contagious diseases, and a single infected traveller at Denver International Airport triggered an outbreak of at least 10 cases in 2025.
Other respiratory risks include seasonal flu – which reached a 30-year high in the 2025–2026 season – and COVID-19, which continues to cause an estimated 290,000 to 450,000 hospitalisations per year. Avian influenza H5N1, circulating in dairy cows and poultry, has caused 70 human infections in the US since 2024, though no person-to-person spread has been detected.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue add another layer of concern, especially in southern host cities during peak summer. Dengue cases in the US hit a record in 2024, with nearly 3,800 cases – a 359% increase over the prior 14-year average. Most were travel-related, but locally acquired infections have occurred, mainly in Los Angeles.
Ebola, while less likely, has prompted travel restrictions after an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The US has banned entry for non-citizens who have been in affected countries in the past 21 days and is screening travellers from those areas. The virus spreads only through direct contact with bodily fluids and infected people are not contagious until symptoms appear.
Health authorities are monitoring these threats closely as the world’s largest sporting event kicks off, urging vigilance and preparedness among travellers and host nations.
