U.S. hospitals are bolstering defences against potential infectious-disease threats ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with federal and private partners testing surge-capacity plans and funding to improve specialist treatment capability.
A federally coordinated, multi-state exercise conducted in June modelled a global outbreak coinciding with the World Cup and tested real-time hospital responses across the country. The full-scale exercise involved more than 50 partners from federal, state and local agencies, hospitals and emergency responders, organisers said, and was designed to probe gaps in coordination, staffing and clinical workflows during a high-profile international event.
Expansion of NETEC special pathogen network
The exercise forms part of a broader effort to strengthen national readiness through expansion of the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) network of Special Pathogen Treatment Centers. NETEC has launched the NSPS Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment and Network Development (STAND) Award, which will provide up to $500,000 each to 75 U.S. hospitals to support training, infrastructure upgrades and operational preparedness.
The STAND Award, NETEC officials say, is intended to widen the network of facilities capable of managing high-consequence infectious diseases and to create a more resilient national system for treating patients during outbreaks. Funding may be used for a range of readiness activities, including staff training, personal protective equipment, engineering and infrastructure modifications, and exercises to test clinical and logistical responses.
“Eligible hospitals are encouraged to apply to join this nationwide system,” the announcement states, reflecting a push to recruit institutions beyond the existing specialised centres.
Global events drive preparedness efforts
Healthcare leaders have long warned that large international gatherings pose a unique challenge for public health systems. Increased travel and dense congregations of spectators can accelerate the spread of respiratory and other infectious diseases, while the high profile of such events can strain local health services and complicate logistics for patient transfers and specialist care.
The June exercise, which was coordinated across multiple jurisdictions, aimed to recreate those pressures by simulating concurrent clinical surges and inter-state patient movements. Planners said the scenario tested communication channels between hospitals and public health authorities as well as the capacity of emergency responders to implement containment and treatment protocols under time pressure.
STAND Award to translate lessons into lasting capability
By combining simulations with tangible funding, NETEC and its federal partners intend to translate lessons from drills into durable improvements. The STAND Award’s emphasis on Level 2 capabilities suggests a tiered approach to special pathogen readiness, scaling resources across a broader set of hospitals rather than concentrating capability in a small number of centres.
NETEC also offered access to subject-matter experts to inform local preparedness and to assist hospitals seeking to qualify for the award. Officials said NETEC personnel are available for interviews to discuss hospital preparedness efforts, specific lessons learned from the June exercise, and the practicalities of eligibility and application for the STAND Award.
Journalists or institutions seeking comment or further detail are directed to contact the NETEC communications lead:
“To schedule an interview or request more information, please contact Veronica Lavarro, Communications Director, at [email protected].”
Strengthening readiness for 2026 and beyond
The initiative reflects a heightened focus within the U.S. public-health community on preparing for mass-gathering risks well in advance of 2026. By combining scenario testing with targeted investment, federal and hospital partners hope to reduce the likelihood that an international event translates into a large-scale public-health emergency and to ensure that specialist care pathways remain functional under stress.
For hospitals, the STAND Award represents both a funding opportunity and a pathway to integrated national capability. For public-health planners, the task ahead will be ensuring that lessons learned from exercises are embedded into routine operations and that upgrades deliver measurable improvements in patient safety and system resilience when the World Cup begins in 2026.
