The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11 and runs through July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The soccer tournament will feature 48 national teams playing 104 games in 16 cities across three countries — Canada, Mexico and the United States. Millions of fans are flying in from every corner of the globe.

From the perspective of an emergency physician, mass gatherings like the World Cup present a special category of challenge, especially when extreme weather and summer heat may affect players and fans.

Most people arrive healthy and leave fine. Yet every tournament generates a predictable set of emergencies. And this World Cup, given its unprecedented scale, deserves more attention than many fans are likely giving it.

Here are four health tips for fans to safely enjoy the World Cup.

1. Beware Of Heat Illness, Which Compounds For Those Drinking Alcohol

June and July in Houston, Miami, Mexico City and Los Angeles can be blistering hot. These are dangerous conditions for people standing outside in crowds for hours.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats and loses vital fluids and salt through sweating. Warning signs include dizziness, a rapid but weak pulse and cool, clammy skin. Left untreated, it can escalate quickly into heat stroke — a life-threatening emergency that can kill or cause permanent brain damage. Core body temperature above 104........

© Forbes