The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is partnering with municipalities and local boards of health. Public health planning and preparedness ensures everyone remains safe. These efforts include:
- Planning and coordination
- Health system readiness
- Disease surveillance and outbreak response
- Environmental risk readiness and response plan
- Contingency planning
- Public information and communications
What municipalities can do to prepare
The 351 local boards of health across the state can foster community pride and a sense of shared responsibility in preparing for the World Cup.
Local health departments can:
- Stay informed on developments and guidance from DPH and other state agencies by following Match Ready MA
- Work with Shared Service Arrangements (SSAs) or other nearby towns to address workforce surge capacity and coordinate leaves for inspectors, public health nurses, and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers
- Engage with local emergency management officials to identify and support planning for community celebrations
- Support local businesses:
- Encourage commercial septic system owners to pump before World Cup events to prepare for increased system flows
- Work with restaurants to update operational plans for increased traffic, food handling, and mobile food permits
- Prepare for a short-term rental surge, unique requests for temporary housing, and busier hotels/motels or campgrounds
- Promote education and awareness among visitors and residents about:
- Celebrating safely to protect your health during the World Cup
- Food protection, including guidance for food truck vendors, and report my meal tool
- Housing, including short-term rentals (e.g., AirBnB or VRBO), campgrounds, and other temporary housing (e.g., tents)
- Sanitation, including portable toilets and trash removal
- Human trafficking
- Sexual assault
- Pools and beaches, including water quality issues and drowning risks
- Basic handwashing and hygiene, which reduces the spread of infectious diseases or respiratory illness
- How and where to access medical and healthcare
Special webinar for municipalities
DPH hosted a special webinar in April 2026 for municipalities and local boards of health to provide an overview of the proactive collaboration and planning to protect the public’s health before and during the World Cup celebrations. A DPH panel discussed existing resources and key considerations for city and town officials.
Video: 2026 World Cup — Local Public Health Preparedness
Skip this video 2026 World Cup — Local Public Health Preparedness.Resources from DPH
- Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH): Supports local boards of health in protecting the health and well-being of their communities
- Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPEM): Provides planning and preparedness resources for disasters, outbreaks, and other large-scale events
- Epidemiology Line for reporting infectious diseases as well as surveillance and control inquiries: (617) 983–6800
- Extreme heat in Massachusetts: explore guidance, tools, and resources to help communities stay safe during periods of extreme heat
- Foodborne illness investigation
- Beach water quality: Includes an interactive data dashboard to locate the status of Massachusetts beaches easily
- Where to go for medical care when you’re sick or hurt
Additional resources
Protecting public health during the World Cup
Explore all resources about how DPH is preparing for safe and healthy celebrations.
Match-Ready Massachusetts
Find information about World Cup preparations throughout the Healey-Driscoll administration.
Boston 26
Get the latest from Boston 26, the official Host City initiative for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.