U.S. public health officials prepare for World Cup amid federal cuts
9 reported
According to NPR, U.S. public health officials are preparing for the 2026 World Cup, which will bring millions of soccer fans to 16 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for 104 matches from mid-June to mid-July. The preparations come after a year of cuts to federal health agencies, including the CDC, which has lost thousands of workers under the Trump administration. Dr. Deb Houry, a former top CDC official who resigned last year, stated that the CDC is usually a visible lead for international events but is less visible now. She also noted that other high-level offices, such as the National Security Council’s biosecurity group and the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, are disbanded, vacant, or lack permanent leaders. In response, Georgetown University has set up a health security operation center to monitor diseases and issue daily situation reports. State and local health departments have been preparing for over a year, focusing on heat-related injuries, food vendor inspections, infectious diseases like measles and sexually transmitted infections, and mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles are diverting resources and staff, with some staff forgoing vacations to manage the extra workload.
What’s reported
The World Cup runs from mid-June to mid-July 2026, with 104 matches across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The CDC has taken major hits under the Trump administration, pushing out thousands of workers.
Dr. Deb Houry, a former top CDC official who resigned last year, said the CDC is usually a visible lead for international events but is less visible now.
High-level offices like the National Security Council’s biosecurity group and the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy are disbanded, vacant, or lack permanent leaders.
Georgetown University has set up a health security operation center to monitor diseases and send daily situation reports.
Atlanta is hosting eight World Cup games and a monthlong fan festival expecting 15,000 people a day; they are setting up air-conditioned cooling stations.
Dallas County is testing wastewater and mosquitoes for West Nile virus, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
Los Angeles County health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said most staff will not take vacations during the World Cup and will accrue overtime costs.
Routine food inspections in some cities will be put aside during the event.
Key figures
Dr. Deb Houry, former top CDC official who resigned last year
Dr. Phil Huang, health director for Dallas County, Texas
Dr. Marcus Plescia, district health director for Fulton County, Georgia (includes Atlanta)
Dr. Alister Martin, health commissioner for New York City
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, county health director for Los Angeles County
Sources: NPR
