The 2026 World Cup is here, and so are the germs. This virus is experts’ No. 1 concern

Health officials are on high alert for infectious diseases during the 2026 World Cup, with measles identified as a top concern by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The tournament, spanning North America across 16 cities for nearly six weeks, presents a significant risk for the spread of various infections, including norovirus and dengue fever, due to mass gatherings in stadiums, bars, and tourist sites. This heightened surveillance occurs at a critical time for underfunded health agencies in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already managing other outbreaks. The CDC's dedicated World Cup disease surveillance dashboard was reportedly still in final development days before the event began, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Public health professionals are stretched thin, prompting initiatives like the Health Security Operations Center, a collaboration between Georgetown University and MedStar Health. This center is analyzing national data to provide early warnings to health authorities and emergency rooms, issuing daily situation reports on disease trends in World Cup host cities and team base camps to hundreds of local and federal officials.