The 2026 FIFA World Cup — spanning 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — is underway, and public health agencies are warning that the tournament's historic scope comes with significant health risks for millions of fans.
PAHO issued comprehensive public health recommendations on June 8, 2026, warning about heat-related illness, infectious disease spread, and food safety challenges. An NPR analysis found more than one-third of the 104 scheduled matches are being played under dangerously hot, humid conditions — particularly in Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, and Atlanta.
