Every day, tens of thousands of Americans travel to Canada or Mexico. Now, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to begin soon, the U.S. government is urging every traveler to take one critical safety step before crossing the border to either country.
The One Step the U.S. State Department Recommends Every Traveler to Mexico or Canada Take Right Now
On June 4, 2026, the X account for the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs, which can be found at @TravelGov, posted about Americans traveling to Mexico or Canada. The post was directed at people who plan to go to either country for the FIFA World Cup 2026 or anyone who knows someone who intends to go. While the majority of the games will take place in America, Canada and Mexico are hosting 13 matches each.
Even though the post mentions the World Cup, the reminder clearly would apply to Americans who are heading to the two countries for any reason. The reminder urged United States citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program before making their way to Canada or Mexico.
"Do you know someone traveling to Mexico or Canada for a FIFA World Cup 2026™ match? Share this post with them as a reminder to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (http://step.state.gov) so the U.S. embassy can be in touch in case of an emergency."
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which is also known as the STEP Program, is a free service offered to any American citizen. It allows the United States Department of State to quickly contact them while they are abroad during an emergency. The government's website details the benefits the STEP Program offers. This is their list, quoted word-for-word:
- Get updates about health, weather, safety, and security for your destination.
- Plan ahead using information from the local U.S. embassy.
- Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there's an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/uFQ71aD