What CDC is doing for World Cup™

For Everyone

At a glance

The World Cup 2026™ is an international sporting event where millions of travelers, visitors, and fans attend matches, associated fan festivals, and other, related mass gatherings throughout North America.

CDC Game On

Operational Posture

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center for World Cup™ on June 1, to support public health during the tournament. Four core objectives were established:
    • Conduct surveillance activities to support early detection, situational awareness, and timely operational decision-making. 
    • Maintain strong internal coordination across Subject Matter Experts and CDC programs to support investigations and response activities. 
    • Develop and share educational resources that support priority public health practices and coordinated activation efforts. 
    • Strengthen engagement with governmental and public health partners to ensure clear communication, alignment, and operational efficiency. 
  • The activation structure includes task forces focused on coordination with state, tribal, local, and territorial partners and on disease surveillance, analysis, and situational awareness.
  • CDC anticipates local health departments and host sites would be working closely with their state counterparts to coordinate any needed federal support.
  • CDC holds a biweekly call with host jurisdictions and federal partners to provide a forum to share key updates and immediate concerns throughout the tournament.

Traveler Health and Port Health Coordination

  • U.S. Port Health Stations are part of a network that serves to limit the introduction and spread of contagious diseases in the United States. These stations are located at 20 U.S. ports of entry where most international travelers arrive and are staffed with CDC medical, veterinary, and public health officers.
  • CDC port health stations maintain 24/7 protocols for response to ill travelers at U.S. ports of entry in coordination with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other port partners.
    • On May 18, 2026, CDC and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced proactive, layered public health measures, including a CDC order setting out temporary entry restrictions for non-U.S. citizens, public health entry screening, and other public health measures intended to prevent introduction of Ebola into the United States.

Educating Soccer Fans

  • CDC's Safety for Soccer Fans  webpage serves as a centralized resource for health information and provides travel and health guidance, connects healthcare providers to relevant clinical resources, and includes links to state, tribal, local, and territorial health department websites for location-specific public health information and recommendations.
Print
Content Source: