The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, is set to kick off on June 12th at 3:00 AM Beijing time at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The three host countries have issued travel advisories. The Mexican Ministry of Health recently issued a travel advisory for fans traveling to the tournament, warning of potential health risks such as measles, dengue fever, and monkeypox, as well as extreme heat.
The Mexican government has strengthened epidemiological surveillance in the host cities of Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City to prevent the spread of diseases.
The health department is focusing on three main health threats: respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza, vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika virus, and infectious diseases such as measles and monkeypox.
The Mexican government recommends that international visitors confirm their vaccination status before traveling, update their vaccinations, including measles, influenza, and COVID-19, and use insect repellents and wear light-colored clothing to prevent mosquito bites.
In addition, June is the rainy season in Mexico, and the combination of high temperatures and rainfall may lead to health problems such as heatstroke. The Mexican health risk level remains low, but the health system has activated its protection mechanisms.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with most matches taking place in the United States. The main venues are located on the East Coast, Midwest, South, and West Coast, making it convenient for global audiences to watch the games in different time zones.
The 11 host cities are: New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Miami, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The final match will be held at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
Several civil rights organizations in the United States issued a travel warning on April 23, alerting foreign visitors planning to attend the World Cup to potential risks such as arbitrary detention, deportation, and human rights violations.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations stated that due to the deteriorating human rights situation in the United States, and the lack of meaningful action or guarantees from FIFA, the host cities, and the US government, they are issuing a travel warning.
According to the warning, fans, players, journalists, and other visitors may face racial discrimination, social media censorship, and electronic device searches. If detained, they may be at risk of “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or even death”.
Immigrants and minorities are particularly vulnerable to serious harm when traveling to and within the United States. The travel warning advises these individuals to exercise caution and make emergency plans.
The United States is facing several issues, including security concerns, entry restrictions, high ticket prices, and venue problems, which have raised concerns among the international community. The impact of the Middle East conflict has also been felt in the daily lives of ordinary Americans.
According to sources, FIFA Secretary-General Matthias Grafström met with Iranian football officials in Istanbul, Turkey on May 16, “guaranteeing” Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup.
US Secretary of State Rubio previously stated that Iranian football players would be welcome at the World Cup, but warned that the US might still ban Iranian team members associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from entering the country.
The Canadian government and host cities have launched a “Travel Advisory” campaign to guide tourists on how to deal with traffic peaks and public safety during the tournament. Cities like Vancouver are strongly recommending the use of public transportation, with increased frequencies on match days.
Due to the unprecedented cross-border nature of the tournament, the Canadian government is reminding visitors with valid visas or electronic travel authorizations to allow for longer clearance times when crossing the border. The Canadian government only recommends purchasing tickets through official channels, as there have been reports of phishing websites targeting Vancouver and Toronto matches.
About 70% of the matches will take place in the afternoon and evening in North American Western Time, corresponding to Beijing time in the early morning and morning. The opening match and final will both kick off at 3:00 AM Beijing time.
On May 15, China Media Group and FIFA announced that they had reached a consensus on cooperation for the new cycle of FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights. The cooperation includes the 2026 World Cup, 2030 World Cup, 2027 Women’s World Cup, and 2031 Women’s World Cup.
According to the cooperation agreement, China Media Group has acquired the exclusive media rights for the Chinese mainland, including open television, pay television, internet, and mobile devices. China Media Group officially opened the World Cup multimedia broadcasting service scheme application on May 20.
