The Athletic’s World Cup performance series, led by Alan McCall, delves into the complexities of the 2026 World Cup. With over two decades of experience in elite football, McCall aims to explain the science behind the challenges teams will face and the strategies they will adopt to overcome them.
The Unique Challenges of the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup, spanning three countries, presents a complex mix of environmental and logistical hurdles. These include diverse climates, extensive travel distances, varying altitudes, and different time zones. While such challenges are not new, their variability within a single tournament is unprecedented. Past tournaments have seen teams adapt to altitude in Mexico in 1986 or travel across South Korea and Japan in 2002. However, the 2026 tournament will require teams to handle a broader range of variables simultaneously.
The World Cup in Russia in 2018 involved lengthy travel but stable conditions, while Qatar in 2022 posed challenges with its mid-club season schedules. The 2026 demands are intertwined, making preparation, recovery, and performance adjustments vital. Teams must contend with the cumulative effects of fatigue, disrupted sleep, climate changes, and altitudes throughout the competition.
Understanding and Planning for 2026
Experienced and integrated medical and performance teams, including doctors, physiotherapists, and nutritionists, have crucial roles in preparation. These teams use advanced scientific understanding and monitoring technologies to tailor strategies for heat, travel, and altitude challenges. Countries like Germany and Croatia often rely on organizational continuity across tournaments to build competitive advantages.
Les Gelis, a former medical official with Australia’s team, emphasizes organizational maturity across multiple tournaments to increase efficiency.
Zoran Bahtijarevic, a former doctor with Croatia’s national team, highlights how accumulated experience aids in refining preparation strategies.
Planning and Trade-Offs
There is no perfect plan for the 2026 World Cup. Preparation typically begins years in advance, becoming more specific as details about opponents and venues emerge. Decisions about base camps, where teams live, train, and recover, become key as they prepare for the varied environments expected during the tournament.
As Shad Forsythe, former head of performance for Germany, explains, teams must map multiple scenarios, balancing travel schedules with environmental conditions.
Wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) values indicate heat stress. These are expected to vary across host cities, with potential extremes in places like Miami or Houston.
In addition to heat, teams face flight durations between four and six hours and time-zone shifts up to three hours. The tournament schedule may dictate various logistical demands, depending on the outcome of group-stage matches.
A performance director notes the importance of prioritization and flexibility, emphasizing planning for travel, heat strategies, and acclimatization.
Simplicity in Strategy
Successful teams often embrace simplicity. For instance, after France’s loss in the Euro 2016 final, manager Didier Deschamps adjusted his approach for the 2018 World Cup, focusing on simplicity.
Zoran Bahtijarevic notes the importance of sticking to basics. Player feedback on their physical condition and simple environmental adjustments can often yield significant returns.
Players such as Bacary Sagna highlight the importance of trusted fitness coaches in managing tournament demands.
Achieving success in complex environments involves teamwork among coaching, medical, performance, nutrition, and logistics staff. Per Mertesacker emphasizes consistent reminders about fundamental needs like hydration.
The 2026 World Cup will be defined by uncertainty, with potential travel demands and environmental challenges shaping outcomes. Teams that best manage these complexities while maintaining simplicity have the strongest prospects for success.
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