Health officials are warning that the upcoming FIFA World Cup could give measles a wider path into Canada, with Vancouver among the cities paying close attention. The concern is not that the tournament itself causes illness, but that it brings together huge crowds, international travel, and close contact in settings where a single infection can spread quickly.
Canada’s Public Health Agency has flagged measles as one of the illnesses most likely to be introduced during the event. That caution is based on a few simple facts: measles is still circulating in many parts of the world, it spreads through the air with unusual ease, and major sports events tend to mix visitors from many countries in dense, fast-moving environments.
Ontario has already released a detailed infectious disease risk review for the tournament. It points to packed stadiums, global travel, and falling vaccination coverage as conditions that could make outbreaks more likely. British Columbia has not yet published a public version of its own assessment.
Why Public Health Leaders Want More Noise Before the First Kick
Dr. Brian Conway of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre says that silence is not the right approach this close to a massive international event. In his view, public health messaging should be stronger and more visible before fans, players, and tourists start arriving in large numbers.
He believes people should be reminded to confirm they are protected against measles and, if needed, get vaccinated before they attend crowded events. He also says visitors should know that Canada is dealing with active measles transmission right now.
His point is straightforward: once large numbers of people are already in the city, prevention becomes harder. The time to talk about protection is before the stadiums fill up.
What officials should be emphasizing
- Check vaccination records before traveling or attending events
- Make sure children and adults are up to date on measles shots
- Warn visitors that imported cases can happen during the tournament
- Keep the public informed about local transmission risks
The National Picture Is Already Concerning
So far this year, Canada has reported more than 900 measles cases across seven jurisdictions. Alberta and Manitoba have seen the largest share of infections.
The current national outbreak follows a much larger wave last year, when more than 5,000 people were infected. Public health officials believe that outbreak began with a case in New Brunswick in the fall of 2024 after the infected person was exposed outside the country.
British Columbia has also been affected. Provincial data shows 470 measles cases reported during 2025 and 2026, with about 80 percent concentrated in northeastern B.C., where immunization rates are among the lowest in the province.
Why Vancouver’s Past Still Matters
Experts say it helps to remember what happened after another major international event in the city. Following the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, British Columbia recorded a measles outbreak that involved 82 confirmed cases.
The Olympic situation was not identical to the World Cup, but the lesson is the same: large gatherings can create opportunities for contagious diseases to move through communities when imported cases arrive.
Dr. Conway says the risk today is intensified by declining vaccination coverage in parts of British Columbia. He also notes that some countries sending teams, fans, and support staff may have even lower vaccination levels, which raises the odds that measles could be carried in during the tournament.
Health Agencies Say Planning Is Already Underway
Vancouver Coastal Health says it has been preparing for the FIFA World Cup for years. The agency says it completed a public health risk assessment with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, although the results have not been made public.
Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, deputy chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the assessment placed measles risk during the tournament in the medium range.
He added that the region has already handled dozens of measles cases imported from other countries during the current outbreak without seeing sustained spread afterward. In his view, strong immunization coverage in the Vancouver Coastal Health region has helped stop those cases from turning into larger chains of transmission.
Why the region may be better prepared than some others
- Local immunization rates are relatively strong in many communities
- Imported cases have not led to ongoing spread so far
- Health teams have recent experience responding to measles cases
- Event planning has been underway well before tournament kickoff
The City Says Emergency Systems Are Ready
The City of Vancouver says it has operational and emergency management plans in place for the tournament. Officials say they are prepared to respond appropriately if a public health or safety issue comes up during the event.
That kind of readiness matters because the World Cup will draw heavy foot traffic, crowded transit, and intense public activity across the city. Even if the overall risk stays moderate, the response needs to be fast and coordinated.
Low-Vaccination Communities Face the Greatest Threat
Dr. Monika Naus, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health, says large international events always bring some infectious disease risk. But she also says the danger to most adults is limited because many already have immunity through vaccination or past infection.
The bigger worry is what happens if measles reaches communities where vaccination coverage is low. In British Columbia, those communities are often clustered geographically, which can make local spread easier once a case appears.
Canada’s Elimination Status Is Already Gone
Last year, the Public Health Agency of Canada said the Pan American Health Organization informed the country that it no longer has measles elimination status.
That status is lost when transmission continues over a long enough period instead of staying limited to isolated imported cases. Canada can get it back if transmission is interrupted for a full year.
What Residents and Visitors Should Do Now
Public health experts say the most practical step is also the simplest: check vaccination status before the tournament begins. Measles is highly contagious, but it is also preventable through vaccination.
For Vancouver, the challenge is to welcome a global sports celebration without giving a preventable disease room to spread. That balance will depend on preparation, clear public messaging, and a community willing to act before the first case arrives.
