Hackensack Meridian Health Warns of Unseen World Cup Opponent: The Sun

Neptune, N.J. - June 18, 2026 -  As MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, prepares to host the FIFA World Cup Final, millions of fans are descending on the region for a month-long celebration of soccer. But beyond the athletic drama, a significant health challenge looms: a sweltering summer sun. With the NY/NJ location slated to be one of the hottest venues of the tournament, the risk of severe sun exposure for fans, volunteers, and athletes is unprecedented.

As the official healthcare partner for the NY/NJ host city, Hackensack Meridian Health is not only preparing to provide elite medical care but is also launching a major public health initiative to combat the dangers of sun exposure. This global event provides a critical platform to address a growing public health crisis: rising skin cancer rates.

Coinciding with the tournament is a landmark development in sun protection – the first new FDA-approved sunscreen ingredient in over 25 years, bemotrizinol – representing a crucial advancement in protecting the public.

David Greenberg, M.D., FACP, section chief, Hematology/Oncology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, says the event is bigger than the sport. It's about a national health concern. "We're thrilled to have the World Cup here, but we must recognize that spending hours in a stadium during a New Jersey summer is a high-risk activity for dangerous sun exposure. The approval of a highly effective ingredient like bemotrizinol, which protects against both UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays, is a powerful new tool that will hopefully protect millions.”

Douglas A. Miller, M.D., medical director of Radiation Oncology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, agrees. "In our clinic, we treat cancers on the face, scalp, and neck – areas that are constantly exposed during outdoor events. Although options including our six-treatment brachytherapy program are highly effective, the ultimate goal is prevention. Sunscreens that offer superior protection can help stop the damage before it starts, reducing the number of fans who might need our services years from now."

By the Numbers

• An estimated 112,000 new cases of invasive melanoma are projected for 2026 in the U.S.
• On average, a person's risk for melanoma doubles if they have had more than five sunburns. Studies have shown that five or more blistering sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 can increase melanoma risk by 80%.
• Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent. This finding is based on major studies and is widely supported by the American Academy of Dermatology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a key prevention strategy.

Especially with melanoma rates on the rise, Andrew Pecora, M.D., FACP, CPE, co-division chief of Skin Cancer and Sarcoma, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, says there’s a clinical urgency of prevention. "From a cancer prevention standpoint, an event of this scale is a massive educational opportunity. We see the devastating consequences of melanoma daily. Having a new, effective ingredient to better shield fans from the full spectrum of UV radiation will undoubtedly save lives, long after the final whistle blows."

For more information about skin cancer and screenings, visit hackensackmeridianhealth.org/cancer. 

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Photo: vecteezy.com