New York City enters the most internationally connected period of its recent history with an active, documented, and growing measles problem. As of June 4, 2026, the United States has recorded 2,030 confirmed measles cases across 40 jurisdictions — a number that already rivals the record-breaking total of 2,288 cases logged in all of 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The timing could not be more challenging. The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off on June 11, with MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — just miles from Manhattan — serving as the venue for eight matches, including the July 19 World Cup Final. Public health officials estimate more than one million international visitors will flood the New York metropolitan area over the 39-day tournament. Many will arrive from countries currently experiencing the worst measles surge in the Americas in modern recorded history.
