Healthcare planning for the 2026 World Cup

Considerations for hospitals, emergency medical services, and healthcare providers to prepare for World Cup events this summer, June 13-July 9, 2026.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is supporting public health and healthcare planning for the World Cup in Massachusetts this summer. That includes coordinating with: 

• Hospital emergency medicine 
• Emergency management and leadership staff 
• Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC) sponsoring organizations 
• EMS providers 
• Community health centers 
• Urgent care clinics 
• Other healthcare providers 

To enhance your facility’s level of readiness, review the following high-level topics. These broad areas are a guide for planning efforts. You should also identify other considerations based on local and regional hazard vulnerability assessments (HVAs), risk assessments, available resources, partnerships, etc. 

Emergency and hospital preparedness

• Surge capacity planning (ED, EMS, etc.) 
• Staff and training  
• Resource/supply allocation and increased demand (PPE, medications, cooling, hydration) 
• Pharmacy needs 
• Data and maintaining situational awareness 

Emergency medical services

• Reviewing staffing needs if near venue site 
• Mass casualty incident (MCI) plans and refresher training 
• Access to interpreter services 
• Awareness of information updates and advisories

Public health and infectious disease

• Infectious-disease surveillance  
• Travel-related illness, history, and disease recognition (all healthcare) 
• Screening and testing protocols 
• Outbreak response 
• Foodborne illness investigation and control 

Environmental health and heat-related illnesses

• Heat illness monitoring and mitigation 
• Extreme heat and air quality
• Radiation exposure (planning for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive incidents)  

Urgent Care

• Accommodating international visitors (language, pricing, signage) 
• Data, surveillance, and reporting 
• Infection prevention and control 
• Staff and workforce planning 
• Hours of operation and access 

Communications

• Translation services and language access 
• Care for international visitors 
• Insurance considerations and payment of services  
• Risk communications and consulate interaction 

Disaster preparedness and mass gathering

• Crowd-related injuries and MCI planning 
• Patient tracking 
• Family reunification 
• Capacity considerations 
• Contingency planning 
• Continuity of operations  
• Emergency and escalation protocols 
• Continuity of routine care 

Other considerations

• Substance use  
• Consulate/embassy and VIPs 
• Human rights, human trafficking, and sexual assault 
• Security (such as when treating players) 
• Connecting with your public health and healthcare partners (healthcare coalitions, local health, EMS, community health centers, local emergency management) 
• Equity and access (uninsured and/or unfamiliar visitors) 
• Logistic and site considerations (near venue/fan zones) 
• Other needs as determined 

Resources from DPH

• Epidemiology Line for reporting infectious diseases as well as surveillance and control inquiries: (617) 983–6800; read the May 2026 Department of Public Health (DPH) Reporting Memo for reminders about reporting certain infectious conditions and DPH’s Joint Clinical Advisory with Boston Public Health Commission for guidance on monitoring for travel-associated conditions
• Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPEM) system logins for partners (DPH WebEOC, Health and Homeland Alert Network, etc.) 
• Extreme heat in Massachusetts: explore guidance, tools, and resources to help healthcare professionals support communities to stay safe during periods of extreme heat in Massachusetts, and sign up for Unhealthy Heat Alerts through the Health and Homeland Alert Network  
• Division of Radiation Control 
• Foodborne illness investigation  
• Human trafficking: Recognition and response in healthcare
• Frequently asked questions after sexual assault (available in multiple languages)
• Hospitals that have Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner services
• Rape crisis centers that offer free services for survivors of sexual assault

Additional resources

• National Human Trafficking Hotline  
• Sexual assault resources (rape crisis centers throughout the state)  
• Local boards of health (listings from Massachusetts Health Officers Association) 
• Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE): Healthcare Planning for Mass Gatherings and Special Events and Hospital Readiness and Response Guidebook  

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