When Millions Gather: Cleaning Strategies for Large Sporting Events

Every 4 years, an international sporting tournament draws passionate fans in large crowds to a beloved sport: soccer (or football outside of the U.S.)! Fans and athletes from around the world travel to host sites to engage in this international event and support their teams. This summer between the months of June and July, the U.S., Mexico and Canada are hosting 104 games between 48 countries. With a large-scale event of this nature comes both benefits and risks. Sporting events create a sense of camaraderie, pride and excitement but also introduce concerns for the health of fans and athletes alike.

The 2026 soccer tournament will traverse 3 countries and 16 cities, drawing millions of attendees from around the world for 38 days of playing.¹ Current projections expect more than 5 million fans to be in attendance, as well as 20,000 volunteers supporting the events. Among the 48 countries, approximately 1,000 athletes will be competing on this world stage.¹ Of the 16 stadiums being used for games, capacities range from 45,000 in Toronto and Guadalajara to 93,000 in Dallas. That is a lot of people pushed together in these crowded spaces. Imagine how many people are exposed to one another at just one game, let alone the 104 games to be played across North America!

The reality for large-scale sporting events

Major sporting events draw large, international crowds into arenas with close proximity, shared air and many high-touch surfaces that are easily contaminated. With the upcoming events, it is important to consider infectious disease spread and devise strategies to mitigate risk when possible. The CDC and WHO provide guidance on calculating and adjusting for risk factors in mass gathering settings.

Disease outbreaks among athletes and staff at major sporting events are common.²

• 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan: 13 members of the Finnish women’s hockey team fell ill with norovirus and the game had to be postponed.³
• 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang: More than 200 norovirus cases among security personnel, causing quarantine mandates for 1,200 exposed guards. Although only two athletes contracted norovirus in this outbreak, the scale of personnel affected resulted in the need for a rapid response to fill the gaps in staffing.⁴

Illness causes athletes to miss out on practices and games that they have been training for, impacting team success. Staff and volunteers are necessary to keep events running smoothly, but illness can greatly disrupt the schedule and efficiency of operations. Anyone who is exposed to germs at the games may become sick and spread illnesses when they return home, increasing the spread of illnesses beyond the arenas and potentially creating local outbreaks.

For this year’s soccer summer events, travelers from the Southern Hemisphere will arrive during their cold and flu season, posing the risk of bringing illness to attendees and the broader North American population, which will be outside of its typical flu season. Beyond cold and flu viruses, other highly transmissible diseases, including norovirus and measles, are of concern in these crowded environments.⁵ Additionally, high foot traffic can cause pathogens on surfaces to resuspend in the air, putting people at further risk of exposure in the arenas.

Defense beyond the field: protecting shared spaces

With any type of mass gathering, event organizers must have robust infection prevention strategies in place. Protocols that target high-touch, high-risk surfaces are a must. There are many shared surfaces that athletes come in contact with, from locker rooms and buses to sports equipment and training rooms.¹ Stadiums have many high-traffic areas where fans encounter highly touched surfaces, from vendors to bathrooms.

When choosing cleaning and disinfecting products for cleaning sports stadiums and other public spaces:

• Select EPA-registered disinfectants that kill pathogens of concern, especially influenza, norovirus and rhinoviruses (common cold) that are likely to spread during these events.
• Ready-to-use (RTU) disinfectants can be especially valuable during large events, where speed, simplicity and correct use matter. Arm your cleaning staff with an RTU disinfectant and make routine touch-ups in restrooms and eating areas a top priority.
• In public areas, consider providing disinfecting wipes that are available for patrons to use. For example, CloroxPro EcoClean™ Disinfecting Wipes kill the pathogens most likely to cause trouble at these events: common cold, flu viruses and norovirus, and no personal protective equipment is required when used as directed, making them ideal for use by the sports fans there to enjoy a game.

Keeping the focus on the game

International sporting events are exciting for fans and athletes alike. If athletes become ill, they miss out on representing their countries and playing the sport that they train for and love. If fans fall ill, they miss out on the full experience of enjoying a game. Although it isn’t possible to prevent every single risk or hazard at a mass gathering, cleaning contractors and industry professionals can take steps to reduce the risk of diseases spreading among attendees. Cleaning and disinfection of shared spaces benefit everyone and allow the focus to stay on game outcomes, country pride, and celebrations rather than a disease outbreak.