On June 18, a message from the “Consular Express” public account reported that recently, a Chinese citizen traveling to Mexico to watch matches was robbed at gunpoint near the Mexico City International Airport, while another Chinese citizen faced a similar armed robbery outside a stadium in Kansas City, USA.
The fan, upon landing in Mexico City that evening, was intercepted by two masked gunmen on a motorcycle near the airport area. They snatched everything—luxury watches, cash, a passport, a laptop, and other valuables—in a matter of 30 to 40 seconds, even pressing a gun to his forehead.
China’s Embassy in Mexico stepped in immediately, urgently issuing replacement travel documents for the fan who had lost his passport. He safely returned home less than 48 hours after the incident. So far, one of the two suspects has been arrested, and the case is still under investigation.
We and the Chinese embassies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are once again strongly reminding Chinese fans heading to these countries for World Cup events to check the safety conditions of host cities ahead of time. Stay alert in crowded spots like large stadiums, transport hubs, and tourist attractions to avoid theft and robbery. If you encounter an extreme situation like a robbery, stay calm, put your safety first, call the police immediately, and reach out to the local Chinese embassy for help.
The quadrennial FIFA World Cup kicked off at 3 a.m. Beijing time on June 12 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and will run until July 19, featuring 104 matches—the first time in history the tournament has expanded to 48 teams.
All three host nations have also issued travel advisories in advance.
Mexico’s Ministry of Health has issued preventive travel tips for fans heading to match zones, warning about potential diseases like measles, dengue fever, and monkeypox, as well as health risks from extreme heat. Host cities in Mexico—Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City—have ramped up epidemiological monitoring to prevent imported outbreaks.
Three key health threats are being flagged: respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and flu, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, and contagious diseases like measles and monkeypox.
Also, June is Mexico’s rainy season, where high temperatures combined with downpours can cause heatstroke and other health issues. Based on past experience, large international sports events often see spikes in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, so this warning is about being proactive. For now, Mexico’s health risk level remains low, but the health system has activated protective measures.
Most World Cup matches will be held in the U.S., spread across venues on the East Coast, Midwest, South, and West Coast, making it easy for global audiences to catch 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 take place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
On April 23, dozens of U.S. civil rights groups jointly issued a travel warning, advising international visitors planning to attend the men’s World Cup that they could face arbitrary detention, deportation, or other human rights violations.
Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP stated in the warning that given the ongoing deterioration of human rights in the U.S., and the lack of meaningful action or concrete guarantees from FIFA, host cities, and the U.S. government, they are issuing this alert.
According to the warning, fans, players, journalists, and other visitors might encounter racial discrimination, social media scrutiny, and electronic device searches. If sent to immigration detention facilities, they could face “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or even death.”
Specifically, immigrants and minorities are “most vulnerable to serious harm” when traveling to and within the U.S. The warning advises these groups to exercise caution and have an emergency plan ready.
Meanwhile, the shockwaves from the Middle East conflict have spilled into everyday American life. News outlets and social media are amplifying fear and speculation, with many Americans worrying about cyberattacks, terrorism, or retaliation from Iran.
The England national team, currently training in the U.S., experienced a theft of their equipment earlier this week while in transit. A large amount of gear was stolen, leaving only one football after an on-site inventory check, with total losses exceeding $500,000. Local police quickly launched an investigation, arresting two suspects, and most of the stolen equipment has been recovered.
As for Canada, the government and host cities officially kicked off a World Cup “travel tips” campaign in early May, aiming to guide visitors through traffic peaks and public safety during the event. Cities like Vancouver strongly recommend using public transit, with light rail, subway, and bus systems increasing service frequency on match days. Major light rail stations now have clear signage pointing to “Fan Fest” zones and stadiums.
Given the unprecedented three-nation format, the Canadian government reminds travelers with valid visas or electronic travel authorizations to allow extra time for customs clearance when crossing borders frequently.
Security agencies in the U.S. and Canada have also issued warnings for fans to watch out for online scams, fake live-stream phishing sites, and data-stealing cyberattacks.
