Item - 2025.HL28.4

The Board of Health:

1. Directed the Medical Officer of Health to continue to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 planning and identify opportunities to enhance Toronto Public Health’s programming to support the games.

 Toronto is scheduled to host six FIFA World Cup 2026 (FWC26) matches from June 11 to July 2, 2026. Several fan events, including the FIFA Fan Festival Toronto at Fort York and The Bentway, will also be operating until July 19, 2026. Many visitors will be international travellers attending matches at the Toronto Stadium (known as BMO Field outside of the games period) and participating in gatherings and events held across the city.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is playing a supportive role in the City’s coordinated planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The scale of FIFA World Cup 2026 and the associated fan events presents significant public health challenges, including risks of communicable diseases (including sexually transmitted infections), substance misuse, and environmental hazards such as extreme heat and air quality deterioration caused by wildfire smoke. Planning efforts are guided by hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRAs) and are aligned with provincial standards. Toronto Public Health is drawing on lessons learned from previous mass gatherings, including the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games, to inform its approach and strengthen its response capabilities.

Toronto Public Health has begun to develop a comprehensive FIFA World Cup 2026 operational plan that includes emergency management protocols, enhanced surveillance, and targeted health promotion initiatives. The plan is based on the findings from the hazard identification and risk assessments process, and it also includes the activation of an Incident Management Team, coordination with City and FIFA World Cup 2026 Emergency Operations Centres, and the development of e-learning modules for staff. Food safety is a key focus, with the launch of a new food safety portal for vendors and organizers to streamline oversight and reduce administrative burden. Toronto Public Health is also expanding staffing and overtime capacity to meet increased service demands.

Toronto Public Health will continue to refine its strategies as more details about participating countries become available to support a safe and healthy FIFA World Cup 2026 experience for all.