The United States, Mexico, and Canada — the three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — announced a unified set of public health travel restrictions on Thursday targeting travelers arriving from areas of Africa grappling with an Ebola outbreak.
In a joint statement, the governments said the measures are designed to shield citizens and the expected influx of millions of visitors, athletes, and tourists during the tournament while keeping cross-border travel and commerce flowing. “The health and safety of every person in the region remains our highest priority as we welcome the world to North America,” the statement read.
Officials did not provide specific details on the new restrictions or a timeline for implementation. But the announcement comes after the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, triggered by an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda. The outbreak has already produced more than 300 suspected cases and at least 88 deaths.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already taken steps to block lawful permanent residents and noncitizens who have been in Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda within the past 21 days from entering the country. The agency also expanded enhanced Ebola screening to three airports: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Washington Dulles International, and most recently, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Travelers returning from the affected nations must now enter through those three airports and undergo screening before continuing to their final destinations.
This particular strain, Bundibugyo, has no approved vaccine, according to the CDC. Health officials are urging anyone who has traveled to the affected regions to seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup, told ESPN last week that Congo’s national soccer team should isolate for 21 days in Belgium — where the squad is currently training — to ensure smooth entry into the U.S. for matches scheduled in Houston and Atlanta.
The coordinated travel measures underscore the growing urgency as the tournament draws closer. The U.S. has also been building a quarantine hub in Kenya for Americans exposed to the virus, a further sign of the administration’s push to contain the spread while maintaining international travel.
