As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws nearer, a growing public health concern is casting a shadow over the tri-nation hosting plans of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Pan American health association (PAHO) has issued an urgent alert regarding a surge in measles cases across the Americas, with Mexico reporting the highest numbers and both it and the U.S. seeking extensions to address ongoing outbreaks. This resurgence of a highly contagious and perhaps serious disease – which can be particularly perilous for young children and adults over 30 [[1]] – threatens to overwhelm regional healthcare systems and disrupt major international events.
Mexico City, February 5, 2026 (Lusa) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an alert following a significant increase in measles cases across the Americas, with Mexico currently reporting the highest numbers, just months before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The warning, released on Wednesday, comes after Canada lost its measles-free status in November, a setback that the United States and Mexico may soon face as well.
Both the U.S. and Mexico have requested a two-month extension to try and control their respective outbreaks, but efforts are complicated by the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), PAHO’s parent agency, in January. This withdrawal impacts collaborative global health initiatives.
In the first three weeks of 2026 alone, PAHO confirmed 1,031 new measles cases in seven countries – a 43-fold increase compared to the same period last year. This surge highlights the growing vulnerability to preventable infectious diseases in the region.
While no deaths have been reported to date, the concentration of cases remains concerning. Mexico leads with 740 cases, followed by the United States with 171 and Canada with 67.
The PAHO alert follows a year of continuous growth in measles cases – the largest increase in five years – driven by a global resurgence and what the agency describes as “persistent gaps in immunization.” Measles is highly contagious, and outbreaks can quickly overwhelm healthcare systems.
PAHO is urging immediate vaccination campaigns, noting that 78% of recent cases have involved unvaccinated individuals. Increasing vaccination rates is crucial to curbing the spread of the virus.
Although adolescents and young adults account for the majority of cases, the highest incidence rates are among children under one year of age. This disparity underscores the critical need to strengthen coverage of the second vaccine dose.
With the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup approaching – scheduled for June 11 to July 19 and featuring a record 48 teams in a first-time tri-nation hosting arrangement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada – regional data is alarming. Only 33% of countries in the Americas have reached the 95% threshold for the first dose of the measles vaccine, and a mere 20% have achieved it for the second dose.
Portugal is in Group K, alongside Uzbekistan, Colombia, and the winner of Path 1 of the intercontinental playoff (featuring Jamaica, New Caledonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
In November, the WHO warned that while measles deaths worldwide have fallen 88% since 2000 thanks to vaccination, cases are increasing, totaling approximately 11 million in 2024.
The organization appealed for increased vaccine coverage to prevent further outbreaks.
In 2024, 59 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks, nearly three times the number recorded in 2021 and the highest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All regions except the Americas had at least one country facing a large outbreak in 2024. The situation shifted in 2025, with several countries in the Americas battling outbreaks.
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