SUMMARY

• Maintain a heightened awareness from June through July 2026 due to a large increase of domestic and international travelers expected in Georgia and the Atlanta Metropolitan area, with highest concentration anticipated between June 15 and July 15 in connection with the World Cup.
• Continue to conduct routine notifiable disease surveillance and the increased number of people in the region may result in increases in healthcare utilization and detection of reportable diseases, including diseases not normally present in Georgia.
• Healthcare providers should be on increased alert for outbreaks/clusters, unusual occurrence of disease of public health concerns and travel-related emerging and seasonal infectious diseases. These can be reported by calling your District Health Office or the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours Monday through Friday, or 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) afterhours on evenings and weekends.

• Ask patients who present with signs or symptoms of possible infectious illnesses about attendance at international soccer events before and during time of symptom onset.

• Please include the term World Cup in the chief complaint, triage or discharge diagnosis of the medical record.

• If your facility notices an increase in patients presenting with similar symptoms, report these immediately 24/7 to 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584). This may represent a disease outbreak, or rarely, even bioterrorism.

BACKGROUND

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 through July 19, 2026, with matches and related events occurring across multiple host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Georgia, specifically the Atlanta metropolitan area, has been selected as one of the official host sites and is expected to receive a substantial influx of domestic and international visitors during the tournament.

The large number of travelers arriving from diverse geographic regions increases the potential for the introduction and spread of infectious diseases of public health concern. Healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health partners should remain vigilant for unusual illness presentations, ensure timely reporting of suspected cases, and maintain awareness of current travel-related health risks throughout the event period.

Providers should maintain awareness for:

• Respiratory viral illnesses, including influenza and COVID-19;
• Vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, pertussis, and mumps;
• Infections spread through close or intimate contact, including mpox and sexually transmitted infections
• Travel-associated infections such as dengue, chikungunya, and

These can be reported by calling your District Health Contacts or the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours Monday through Friday, or
1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) afterhours on evenings and weekends.

In addition to infectious diseases, providers should anticipate increased presentations related to heat-related illness, dehydration, substance use, and overdose, which may increase during large public gatherings and celebrations.

ATLANTA MATCH SCHEDULE

Additional information regarding Georgia’s role as a host city, including match schedules and event details, is available on the FIFA World Cup 2026 Atlanta Host City website FIFA Match Schedule | FIFA World Cup 26 Atlanta™.

REPORTING

All Georgia physicians, laboratories, and other health care providers are required by law (OCGA 31-12-2) to report patients with the conditions listed under Notifiable Disease Reporting Requirements. Immediately reportable conditions can be reported by calling your District Health Office or the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours Monday through Friday, or 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) afterhours on evenings and weekends. Notifiable diseases that require reporting within 7 days can be submitted electronically through the State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SENDSS).

DPH Recommends Health Care Providers:

• Continue to conduct routine notifiable disease surveillance and
• Be alert for travel-related emerging and seasonal infectious diseases. The increased number of people in the region may result in increases in healthcare utilization and detection of reportable diseases, including diseases not normally present in Georgia. These can be reported by calling your District Health Office or the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours Monday through Friday, or 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) afterhours on evenings and weekends.

• Ask patients who present with signs or symptoms of possible infectious illnesses about attendance at FIFA World Cup-related events before and during time of symptom onset.
  • Please include the term World Cup in the chief complaint or discharge diagnosis of the medical record.

• If your facility notices an increase in patients presenting with similar symptoms, report these immediately 24/7 to 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584). This may represent a disease outbreak, or rarely, even bioterrorism.

• Review the Notifiable Disease Reporting Requirements. All Georgia physicians, laboratories, and other health care providers are required by law to report patients with any of the conditions listed.

SCREENING TOOLS

• HCID Identify, Isolate, Inform Screening Tool
• Think HCID Card
• DPH Travel Clinical Assistant
• DPH Travel Clinical Assistant Factsheet
• NSPS List of Potential Diseases

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• CDC Safety for Soccer Fans
• Travel Health Notices | Travelers’ Health | CDC
• NSPS List of Potential Diseases
• National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center
• FIFA Match Schedule | FIFA World Cup 26 Atlanta™

Georgia DPH Contact Information Acute Disease Epidemiology Phone: 404-657-2588

Email: contactpublichealth@dph.ga.gov