With the aim of protecting citizens and visitors during the 2026 World Cup, which begins next June 11, the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the host countries of the event, announced coordinated public health measures for travelers coming from African regions with a higher risk of contracting Ebola.
“The health and safety of all people in the region remain our top priority as we welcome the world to North America,” they said in a joint statement on Thursday, without detailing the coordinated measures.
On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a public health emergency of international concern and warned of the high risk of spread to neighboring countries.
This decision prompted governments to intensify containment measures related to travel. In recent days, entry to the United States was banned for non-citizens who had traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in recent weeks.
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the ban to citizens who had been in those countries in the previous 21 days.
Canada banned entry to residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan for 90 days. The measure came into effect on Wednesday.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and other foreigners who have been in affected areas in recent weeks and do not show symptoms must quarantine for 21 days starting Saturday, according to a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
On Monday, Mexico’s Secretary of Health, David Kershenovich, announced stricter Ebola screening measures at airports, urging the public to avoid traveling to the DRC and requesting those arriving from that country to comply with a 21-day quarantine.
Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, stated on Thursday that his country, along with Mexico and Canada, is coordinating efforts ahead of the 2026 World Cup, aiming to safeguard the security of attendees and participants in the context of the virus outbreak.
“As our countries prepare for the 2026 World Cup—the largest sporting event in history—the United States, Mexico, and Canada are coordinating efforts on all fronts, including public health measures related to the Ebola outbreak, to help ensure this tournament is the safest and most memorable of all time,” Johnson said in a message on the social network X.
Additionally, last week—according to ESPN—Mexican health authorities announced a strengthening of preventive measures against Ebola with health filters at airports and special protocols ahead of the World Cup, although they ruled out cases in the country and assured that the risk of spread is “very low.”
“(In) Mexico no cases have been recorded and (to say) that the risk of spread so far is low globally, very low for our country,” said Secretary of Health Kershenovich during the presidential press conference.
Also, the Canadian government began implementing new temporary border measures, including suspending visas for residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, to try to prevent the entry and spread of Ebola in the country.
More than 1,100 people were suspected of having contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda, according to the director of the African Union health agency in an opinion piece published Sunday in the Financial Times.
Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported that as of Saturday, 263 cases had been confirmed in both countries, with 43 deaths.
Last Friday, the WHO raised the risk from “high” to “very high” due to the outbreak.
In response to the Ebola outbreak in the African continent, the Mexican airline Viva announced that Mexican authorities imposed temporary restrictions for people who have traveled to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.
“As a result of the provision issued by the health and immigration authorities of the Mexican government, we inform that starting at 00:00 hours on May 28, 2026, a temporary entry restriction to the country for international passengers is implemented,” the statement cited by ESPN says.
Additionally, the announcement explains that these measures will be in effect for approximately two months from the date of publication and details to whom the restriction will apply.
“The measure will have an initial validity of 60 calendar days and will apply to: Passengers who have traveled during the last 21 days to Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and/or South Sudan and who do not have a Mexican passport or valid residency in Mexico,” the text sent to operators and the National Chamber of Air Transport (Canaero), the Ministry of the Interior, and the National Institute of Migration (INM) states.
On June 23, the DRC team will face Colombia at the Akron Stadium, in the municipality of Zapopan, located west of the Guadalajara metropolitan area in Jalisco, Mexico, in the African team’s second game in Group K of the 2026 World Cup. The first will be on June 17 in Houston, USA, against Portugal, and the third on the 27th against Uzbekistan at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
