Hurricane season is here, and the World Cup is coming. What visitors need to know
As hundreds of thousands of soccer fans prepare to travel to South Florida for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, officials are warning visitors to watch out for more than ticket scams.
Monday marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials are urging residents and tourists alike to prepare for the possibility of storms, flooding rain and heat in the months ahead.
The World Cup is expected to draw millions of visitors to the United States, with South Florida serving as one of the tournament’s hosts. To prepare for the influx of visitors, NOAA and local emergency management agencies have been coordinating hurricane preparedness and public messaging with federal, state and local partners.
“There’s a lot of concerns that the World Cup is going to bring to Miami-Dade County, and we’ve been planning for it,” Pete Gomez, director of the Department of Emergency Management for Miami-Dade County, said at a press conference Monday morning.
Emergency managers say the most important step for both residents and visitors is to make a plan before a storm threatens South Florida. That includes knowing whether your home, hotel or rental property is in an evacuation zone, identifying where you would go if ordered to evacuate, and having enough food, water and medications to get through several days without assistance.
“Create a kit, have a plan, know your evacuation zones, know whether you’re in a storm surge zone or what storm surge zone you’re in, and know whether you’ve got to leave,” said Gomez.
Officials also encourage residents and visitors to identify trusted sources of information before a storm threatens South Florida.
The National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service provide forecasts, watches and warnings throughout hurricane season, while local governments offer evacuation information, preparedness guides and emergency alerts tailored to their communities.
In Miami-Dade County, residents and visitors can download the ReadyMDC app for emergency alerts and preparedness information. Tropical storm and hurricane resources, including evacuation zone maps and planning guides, are available at miamidade.gov/hurricane.
Broward County recently launched the Broward Emergency Ready app to help residents prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies. Additional storm information, including evacuation plans and maps, can be found at broward.org/hurricane.
Federal officials said they have positioned personnel and resources ahead of the season. More than 20,000 personnel are available to support disaster operations, along with 18 incident management teams, 28 urban search-and-rescue teams, and six disaster emergency communications teams that can be deployed if needed.
This year, NOAA forecasts a 55% chance of a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict eight to 14 named storms, including three to six hurricanes, compared with the seasonal average of 14 named storms and seven hurricanes.
But just because it’s a below-normal season, officials urge people not to let their guard down.
“This is the time to get ready,” said Michael Brennan, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “It only takes one storm affecting your community to make it a bad season for you and your family.”