The Colombian Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommend that tourists traveling to the 2026 World Cup update their measles vaccinations [1].
This guidance comes as the tournament brings millions of international visitors to North America. Because measles is highly contagious, health officials are concerned that the disease could spread rapidly among travelers congregating in high-density areas [1, 4].
Marcela Martínez, sub-director of collective actions for the Secretariat of Health, represented the health agencies in an interview regarding the risks [1]. She said that travelers should review and update their vaccination schedules before departing for the host nations [1, 2].
The advisory specifically targets those visiting the three host countries: the U.S., Mexico, and Canada [2, 3]. According to the health agencies, outbreaks of measles have already been recorded within these host nations [1, 4].
Public health officials said that the virus can move quickly through crowds. Ensuring a complete vaccination record is the primary defense for travelers to prevent both personal infection and the wider spread of the virus across borders [1, 4].
The tournament is scheduled to take place throughout June and July of 2026 [2, 3]. Travelers are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers to verify they have received the necessary doses of the vaccine before the event begins [1, 2].
“Travelers should review and update their vaccination schedules before departing”
The intersection of a massive global sporting event and active measles outbreaks creates a significant public health vulnerability. By issuing these warnings now, health authorities aim to increase herd immunity among the traveling population to prevent the World Cup from becoming a super-spreader event for a vaccine-preventable disease.
