Are You Coming to the US/Houston for the World Cup? Here’s What to Do If You Get Sick.

A Houston physician’s plain-language guide to American healthcare for fans who have never needed it before.

Dr. Basil Nduma, MD, MSHI · Internal Medicine Physician · Founder, Texas Integrated Care Group · Houston, TX

Millions of football (Soccer) fans are descending on the United States this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Houston’s NRG Stadium is one of the crown jewels of the tournament. As an internal medicine physician who has practiced in this city and trained in three countries on two continents, I am genuinely excited to welcome the world to our doorstep. I’ve also been quietly dreading one thing: the moment a fan from South Korea, Morocco, Brazil or any other country needs medical care and has no idea what to do.
American healthcare is genuinely hard to navigate if you didn’t grow up in it. The pricing makes no sense. The options are confusing. And the stakes of going to the wrong place can be hundreds or thousands of dollars. So here’s a quick orientation before you ever need it.

The Most Expensive Mistake You Can Make

Going to a hospital emergency room for something that isn’t an emergency. In the US, an ER visit starts at $1,500 before anyone has looked at you. Sprains, stomach bugs, ear infections, fevers, medication refills — none of these need an ER.

GO TO AN URGENT CARE CLINIC INSTEAD Walk-in visits run $100-$200 without insurance. Most take international travel insurance with upfront payment. Search “urgent care near NRG Stadium” and you’ll find several within a few miles.

Save the ER for chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech), severe head injuries, or uncontrolled bleeding. Federal law requires ERs to treat anyone regardless of insurance. In a real emergency, go to the ER, the bill can be sorted later.

Your Other Options

Telehealth: Apps like Teladoc or MDLive connect you to a US-licensed doctor in 15-30 minutes for $50-75. My practice, Texas Integrated Care Group can also offer you telehealth services. All Telehealth providers can prescribe the most common medications in urgent situations.

Pharmacy: Don’t underestimate the pharmacist. CVS, Walgreens, and HEB have clinical staff who can advise on over-the-counter options and catch drug interactions. For anything that doesn’t need a prescription, start there.

Before You Leave Home

A few things that will save you significant headaches:

• Travel insurance that explicitly covers the US. Standard policies often cap or exclude US coverage because our costs are so high. Read the fine print. You want at least $100,000 in medical coverage plus emergency evacuation.
• A 30-day supply of any prescription medications, plus copies listing the generic names. Brand names vary by country and a US pharmacist may not recognize yours.
• Your blood type and allergies written in English. Phone note is fine. Card in your wallet is better.
• Google Translate with offline mode enabled. It can photograph a label or consent form and translate it instantly.
• Your consulate’s Houston/US contact. Many maintain physician referral lists and can help citizens in a medical bind.
• The address of the urgent care nearest your hotel. Find it now, before you need it.

The Medication Rules Are Different Here

Codeine products and most antibiotics require a prescription in the US. Ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are available over the counter at any pharmacy.

If you are bringing controlled substances like certain opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants etc, carry documentation at customs. The rules are strict and the consequences for undeclared controlled substances are serious, regardless of what’s legal at home.

NEED A REFILL WHILE YOU’RE HERE? Any urgent care clinic can issue a short-term US prescription if you bring your original packaging and documentation from your home physician.

About Paying

Most providers want payment at the time of service if you don’t have US insurance. Keep every receipt because your travel insurer will need them. If a bill looks wrong, request an itemized statement and ask about a reduction. Hospital billing departments do this routinely for uninsured patients. It’s not advertised but it works.

You’ll Be Fine

Houston’s Texas Medical Center is ten minutes from NRG Stadium and is the largest medical complex in the world. The care here is excellent. The system surrounding it is just confusing. That’s the problem this guide is trying to solve.

Welcome to Houston. Go enjoy the football.

Houston-area residents: if this tournament made you realize your chronic conditions could use more attention, Texas Integrated Care Group handles exactly that — including telehealth. texasintegratedcaregroup.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Basil Nduma, MD, MSHI is an internal medicine physician and founder of Texas Integrated Care Group (TICG), an internal medicine practice in the Conroe, Woodlands, and Montgomery County area focused on medically complex adults. TICG handles post-discharge care, chronic disease management, and telehealth visits. texasintegratedcaregroup.com.