Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Health

Protecting Public Health in Rhode Island During the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the Rhode Island Summer of Soccer™

Large events—like concerts, sports games, parades, or pilgrimages—that bring many people together from all over the world can be celebratory and joyous, but it is important to put health and safety first. These large events, when many people gather, can have an impact on public health. Infectious diseases can spread easily in crowded places, outdoor events can lead to heat- or cold-related illnesses (like heat stroke or hypothermia), and large crowds can overwhelm resources (like water systems, transportation, and healthcare).  

This summer, the US, Canada, and Mexico, are hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Soccer Tournament from June 11 through July 19. A total of 104 games will be played across North America, including 7 games scheduled to take place at Boston Stadium, in Foxborough, MA. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is planning and coordinating to protect the health and safety of residents and visitors this summer. For guidance and information from MA DPH, please visit the MA DPH website. The Rhode Island Department of Health is working in close partnership with MA DPH.

Rhode Island expects to host national soccer teams and many Rhode Island Summer of Soccer™-related events (like watch parties), as well as to have fans staying in its hotels, dining in its restaurants, and flying through TF Green Airport (PVD).   

RIDOH is taking steps to keep Rhode Islanders and visitors healthy this summer. This page aims to connect visitors, residents, and RIDOH licensees with information, guidance, and resources to protect public health this summer.

What RIDOH Is Doing to Prepare

RIDOH is working to ensure Rhode Island’s public health and medical infrastructure can accommodate the needs of visitors to the area, to ensure Rhode Island is prepared to respond to any potential emergencies with public health and medical impacts, and to prevent threats to Rhode Island’s food, water, and environment. These steps include but are not limited to:  

  • Engaging staff, state agency partners, healthcare facilities and systems, emergency medical services, and community members in training and exercises that focus on capabilities to ensure readiness for this summer’s events;  

  • Reviewing emergency response plans for all hazards, from infectious disease outbreaks to mass casualty events to bioterrorism attacks;  

  • Expanding monitoring trends in visits to healthcare settings for increases in infectious diseases, drug overdoses, injuries, heat-related illness, and other health outcomes;  

  • Expanding food safety trainings and resources and increasing food inspection and outreach;  

  • Enhancing response plans and expanding testing capacity for infections not typically seen in this region;  

  • Continuing wastewater monitoring for respiratory diseases like flu, RSV, COVID-19, avian influenza, and measles; and

  • Engaging with partners across the state to ensure relevant and timely communications.  

What Visitors Need to Know

Learn more about how to protect your health before, during, and after your travel to Rhode Island. 

Information and Resources for Healthcare Professionals and Healthcare Settings 

Before and during this summer’s activities, RIDOH would like to remind healthcare professionals of the different ways we can support you when you have questions about reporting, policies, guidance, or news.

The risk for a large measles outbreak in Rhode Island right now is low because Rhode Island has a very high MMR vaccination rate. Measles is still common in many countries and is becoming more common in the US. Measles easily spreads through communities where groups of people are unvaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers to and from those areas of the US and other countries can spread it to others. 

Rhode Island offers a variety of behavioral health resources and services for people experiencing mental health and/or substance use conditions. Healthcare professionals, individuals, and families are encouraged to use the below resources to help refer patients of all ages to immediate crisis counseling, detoxification, and ongoing substance use treatment. 

Rhode Island's drug supply is always changing, which can have an impact on the people within our state. The strong opioid, fentanyl, has been found in drugs such as heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and other substances. It is often in fake pills sold as Adderall®, oxycodone, Percocet®, and Xanax.® It only takes a small amount of fentanyl to cause an overdose. Get free naloxone and other overdose prevention resources at PreventOverdoseRI.org.  

Information and Resources for Food Protection and Drinking Water Quality

Before and during this summer’s activities, RIDOH would like to remind licensees and public water systems of the different ways we can support you when you have questions about reporting, licensing, policies, guidance, or news.

Helpful Websites