As the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins to sweep across Toronto, health-care officials say extensive planning and preparation have been underway for months to ensure the safety and well-being of both visitors and local residents during one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in Canada.
With thousands of fans arriving from around the world and celebrations expected to continue for more than five weeks, hospitals, public health agencies, emergency responders, and government officials have developed comprehensive plans to respond to everything from infectious disease outbreaks and food safety concerns to major emergency incidents.
Leading the public health preparations is Michelle Murti, whose team has been conducting extensive global disease surveillance to monitor potential health risks associated with international travel. Public health officials have been tracking diseases that may be more prevalent in countries whose teams and supporters are travelling to Toronto, including measles, meningitis, and other infectious illnesses.
While concerns about global outbreaks such as Ebola remain under close observation, health experts say more common illnesses such as norovirus present a more realistic challenge during large gatherings. Norovirus, which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can spread quickly through contaminated food, surfaces, or close contact among large crowds.
To detect potential outbreaks early, Toronto Public Health has expanded wastewater monitoring around stadiums, training facilities, and FIFA Fan Festival locations. This surveillance system allows health officials to identify signs of viruses before large numbers of people become ill and to quickly implement preventive measures such as enhanced sanitation, public advisories, and additional handwashing stations.
Officials are also using wastewater testing to monitor for early signs of measles and mpox. Given the highly contagious nature of measles, health authorities are strongly encouraging both local residents and international visitors to ensure their vaccinations are up to date before attending matches and related events.
Food safety has emerged as another major focus area. Large international gatherings often bring increased risks of food-borne illnesses due to high temperatures, crowded venues, and temporary food operations. To address these concerns, Toronto Public Health has implemented a registration system for all food vendors participating in FIFA-related events and has deployed additional health inspectors throughout fan zones and event venues.
Inspectors are conducting ongoing checks to ensure proper food handling, storage, preparation, and sanitation practices. Officials are also monitoring unauthorized vendors to help reduce potential health risks.
Beyond infectious diseases and food safety, emergency preparedness teams have spent months planning for worst-case scenarios. Hospitals throughout the Greater Toronto Area have reviewed and updated their emergency response procedures, including Code Orange protocols that allow hospitals to rapidly expand capacity in the event of a mass casualty incident.
A large-scale emergency exercise conducted earlier this year involved more than 30 hospitals, police services, paramedic services, fire departments, and health organizations across the region. The simulation tested the health-care system’s ability to respond to hundreds of injured patients following a fictional crowd incident near a World Cup match venue.
The exercise allowed hospitals to practise coordinating patient transfers, expanding treatment capacity, postponing non-urgent procedures, and mobilizing specialized trauma teams. Officials reported that the results demonstrated a high level of preparedness and coordination among participating agencies.
Matthew Runnalls, an emergency physician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said the extensive planning has helped strengthen confidence in the city’s ability to respond effectively should a major incident occur. He noted that hospitals were able to communicate quickly and efficiently during the exercise, demonstrating strong readiness across the health-care system.
Hospitals closest to FIFA venues, including Toronto Western Hospital and St. Joseph’s Health Centre, will serve as primary receiving centres if emergencies occur, while major trauma centres such as Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, and The Hospital for Sick Children will provide specialized support.
Another critical element of the preparedness plan involves helping families locate loved ones during major emergencies. Hospitals have established Family Information Support Centres designed to work closely with police and emergency responders to reunite injured individuals with relatives and friends as quickly as possible.
Despite months of planning for potential challenges, health-care professionals remain optimistic and excited about the opportunity to welcome the world to Toronto. Officials say their goal is not only to be prepared for emergencies but also to help ensure that visitors enjoy a safe and memorable experience during the FIFA World Cup.
As Toronto takes its place on the global stage, health-care workers, emergency responders, and public health officials are working behind the scenes to ensure that the city’s biggest sporting celebration is remembered for the action on the field rather than events off it. Their message to residents and visitors is simple: stay healthy, stay informed, and enjoy the world’s game as it comes to Canada.