U.S. Allocates $625M for World Cup Security but Zero for Public Health Preparedness, Experts Warn
By
Celine Gounder
Hot, fresh, and worth queueing round the block for.
Summary
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest mass gathering event in U.S. history with over 5 million tickets sold across 16 cities and 3 countries, faces a critical public health preparedness gap. While the federal government allocated $625 million for law enforcement and security, zero funding was directed toward public health infrastructure. An infectious disease physician and epidemiologist outlines major concerns about disease surveillance, outbreak response capacity, and healthcare system readiness just days before the tournament begins, warning that the U.S. is dangerously unprepared for potential health emergencies during this massive international event.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe federal government allocated $625 million for World Cup law enforcement and security, and zero for public health.
More than five million tickets have been sold across three countries and 16 cities over 39 days, dwarfing the 3.4 million total attendance at the 2022 World Cup.
As an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, I didn't need a pandemic to know that mass gatherings and infectious disease outbreaks go hand in hand.
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