Fulton County, Georgia and federal officials are warning of potentially dangerous heat and humidity ahead of Atlanta’s 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
The Fulton County Board of Health urged everyone heading to World Cup events to take precautions to stay safe.
“The temperatures are expected to be potentially dangerous if people aren’t prepared for it. And with the mixture of the humidity, the weather will feel even warmer than the temperature may show,” the board said.
The advisory follows a recent NPR report that found heat illness is likely to be a big risk for players, workers and fans this year.
The NPR analysis found that “two-thirds of matches are at either high or moderate heat risk, including many playoff games.” It breaks down the heat illness risk by match for metro areas, with the risk ranked “high” for those scheduled for temperatures above 77°F.
That includes all eight matches in Atlanta.
Now, FIFA has announced — in a reversal of a previous statement — that attendees would be permitted to bring water into U.S. matches under certain conditions.
“All fans will be permitted to bring in one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada. As FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi, explains, fans will not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles due to safety and security reasons,” Schirgi said on X.
FIFA also previously said World Cup host stadiums would be prepared to provide cooling areas for fans and extra drinking water.
Heat dangers
Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S., responsible for more than 700 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Exposure can quickly cause heat illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke, according to the CDC, and vulnerable groups, including older adults, young children and people with chronic health conditions are at high risk.
Federal, state, local health officials’ guidance
The Atlanta metro area is expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors during Atlanta’s World Cup matches, set to kick off June 15.
The CDC has issued a set of World Cup health and safety tips for fans. The agency’s Yellow Book 2026 outlines advisories designed for health providers who may treat patients traveling internationally.
Fulton County recommends fans or people working at outdoor events during Atlanta’s World Cup follow heat precautions, including advising that they watch for symptoms of heat illness.
And the county board recommends everyone to drink lots of water throughout the day, even when not thirsty, avoid the sun as much as possible, and seek shade and air conditioning.
Georgia Department of Public Health officials said the agency is coordinating with the City of Atlanta, federal officials, state Emergency Management officials and metro area hospitals on plans to respond to heat illnesses, disease outbreaks and other potential public health threats.
“Our efforts are centered on preparedness, coordination, and rapid detection and response to a wide range of public health concerns. Planning considers a variety of risks typical of large-scale international events, including infectious disease, environmental health concerns (such as food safety and heat-related illness), and medical surge scenarios. DPH maintains robust statewide surveillance systems to detect early signs of unusual disease activity. These systems are supported by strong laboratory capacity and close coordination with healthcare providers and local health departments,” a DPH spokesperson told WABE in an emailed statement.
