Inside a Campaign: What Really Matters with Nutrition for the FIFA 2026 World Cup?
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
I'm fortunate to have worked with national federation teams at two World Cups: travelling with England to Brazil in 2014, and as a strategic advisor for France's 2018 winning campaign.
A World Cup campaign can be both magical and challenging in equal measure. So, what are some of the key, and often less discussed, considerations from a nutrition perspective for this 2026 FIFA World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the USA?
Planning for ~49 Days
The top nations will be planning and believing in this plan. Around 10 days for a preparation camp to acclimatise and prepare in local conditions, ahead of a 39-day run to lift the trophy at the MetLife Stadium on July 19th.
This is a long campaign in a bubble away from friends, family and normality. One factor that isn’t discussed often is fun!
Teams that have previously lifted the trophy have injected some fun into their Team Base Camp - and the performance nutritionist working closely with the executive chef(s) will have a key role, to ensure that some joy is added to the eating experiences (e.g. interactive demonstrations, themed nights), as well as meeting desired fuelling targets.
Environmental Extremes
The environmental challenges for this tournament have been well documented with extreme heat expected in 14 out of 16 host cities, with historical wet-bulb globe temperatures reaching 35 °C.
Additionally, matches in Matches in Guadalajara (1566 m) and Mexico City (2240 m) will take place at altitude. All across 4 different time zones, the most for a World Cup finals.
With the heat strain increasing sweat losses, hydration and cooling strategies need to be balanced with fuelling (carbohydrate) intake pre-, during and post-match - requiring proactive strategies to maintain physical and cognitive function for 90 minutes, extra time and beyond.
With FIFA introducing 3-minute hydration breaks in each half, teams will need to be intentional with these breaks for cooling, rehydration and refuelling. This will be practiced in training.
Added to this, storms are common in the summer months. Miami is one of the cities identified with the highest heat risk. I’ve been with a national team at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in June and it’s intense!
What Time is Pre-Match?
The expanded format of 48 teams at the FIFA 2026 World Cup also brings with it the largest number of different kick-off times. There are 13 different potential kick off times for the tournament. This has evolved from three slots in Germany 2006.
With logistics for preparation (e.g. pre-match meal) and recovery anchored around the kick off time, this provides a lot more scenarios to plan for. We know that players often under-fuel for early kick-offs and under-recover after late kick-offs. Both can negatively impact recovery ahead of the next match.
Practically, managing gastrointestinal issues and comfort will be important, especially considering the cocktail of stressors the players will experience: different kick-off times, increased fluid intake, jet lag, and travel fatigue.
Expect discomfort
The preparation camp will be used for players to adapt to the new environment, and is a key window to monitor sweat losses, fluid intakes, and to refine match day strategies, alongside wider team wellbeing and performance monitoring.
The message to players will be overt: expect discomfort.
Players will be reassured that this is normal and to expect it. They will be given guidance on how to adapt behaviours to meet the environmental demands, while also being aware of risk of extreme weather (e.g. a thunderstorm) delays like those witnessed in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The bottom line is that the perfect cocktail of heat, humidity, travel, unfamiliar routines (environment, travel, extra time) and some World Cup nerves will mean that players often subjectively ‘feel’ different from the domestic season.
Individual Player Work
Players across the squad of 26 will have very different sweat rates and composition, drinking habits, and taste preferences, therefore, strategies will need to be personalised. Fluid intake will increase, but also ensuring adequate salt intake at meal times can help to replenish sodium lost in sweat.
As with any World Cup campaign. Some players won't play much, if at all - but they need to be ready if their moment comes later in the tournament.
Managing body composition (e.g. body fat and muscle mass) can be an ongoing concern for some players, and balancing the right training load and nutrition can be crucial.
Usually, more of the education, monitoring, and testing will happen in the preparation camp - but not always. During the tournament, a nutrition practitioner be ‘hands-on’ to ensure strategies are executed (e.g., player recovery following an evening kick-off).
There of course is a fine balance between when to intervene, and when to observe, and often the best nutrition intervention is standing back and letting the players focus on their technical work.
It’s often the teams with strong interdisciplinary team processes, and clear responsibilities, which get this balance right.
Club and Country Communication
The information sharing and communication between club and country has improved a lot over the last 20 years, but will still vary greatly from federation-to-federation. I've sat on both sides of this fence with different interests.
From a nutrition perspective, the better the handover from the club (not just of strategies, but the specific nuances working with the player and modifying their behaviours), the better the national federation can develop new strategies to meet the environmental conditions.
From a safety perspective, squads should have clear policy to ensure all supplementation must be third-party batch tested and certified (e.g. Informed Sport, ‘Kölner Liste’
[Cologne List]) to reduce the risk of an anti-doping rule violation.
There is nothing like a World Cup. It’s a truly unique cultural and performance experience.
Best,
James
---
For more insights on nutrition in elite football, check out following INTRA on Linkedin or Instagram, or check out James Collins' personal website.
Comments