With the 2026 FIFA World Cup bringing one of the world's largest international sporting events to North America, the Northeast Regional Urgent Care Association (NERUCA) has developed a FIFA Preparedness Checklist for Urgent Care to help centers prepare for potential operational and public health impacts associated with large-scale events.
The expanded tournament will include 48 teams and 104 matches, with millions of visitors expected to travel throughout North America. Events of this scale can create unique considerations for healthcare organizations, including changes in patient volume, staffing demands, infectious disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and coordination with local healthcare and public health partners.
For urgent care centers, preparedness begins well before an event takes place. NERUCA's checklist provides a practical framework to help leaders assess potential risks, review existing plans, identify opportunities for additional preparation, and engage clinical and operational teams in advance.
The resource also highlights the important role urgent care can play within the broader healthcare preparedness system during mass-gathering events. By planning ahead, urgent care organizations can strengthen their ability to maintain access to care while supporting the surrounding healthcare system and communities they serve.
The checklist is part of NERUCA's ongoing efforts to provide practical emergency preparedness resources tailored specifically to urgent care organizations across the Northeast.
Urgent care leaders are encouraged to use the checklist as a starting point for preparedness discussions and to adapt planning activities based on the anticipated impact of major events within their own communities.