Inside FIFA World Cup 2026: The Sports Medicine Expert Keeping Soccer’s Biggest Stars Healthy
It’s more than 20 years since the U.S. hosted a FIFA World Cup and in the coming weeks, thousands of expectant fans from all over the world are due to jam-pack its stadiums in anticipation of soccer greatness. Behind the scenes, however, an essential strategy for keeping the athletes healthy is in play, and one man who is integral to this process for the New York and New Jersey area is Riley J. Williams III, MD—the man they call “The Pro Sports Doc.” His role will include the coordination of medical care during one of the world’s most demanding tournaments.
Who Is Dr. Riley Williams III, FIFA’s Medical Leader for New York and New Jersey?
For those who are only just catching World Cup fever, soccer is a sport that could be underestimated in terms of its brutality. Players often run for 90 minutes or more, deal with extreme weather, and place untold stress on their bodies as they shoot towards immortality on the pitch. Dr. Williams III is no stranger to the pressures that players like Cristiani Ronaldo (Portugal), Lioness Messi (Argentina) or Kylian Mbappé (France) will face, and specializes in knee, shoulder, and elbow surgery, He takes a special interest towards ACL and knee ligament repair, and cartilage reconstruction, following sports-related and orthopedic injuries. “The Pro Sports Doc” also serves as Chief of the Sports Medicine Institute at HSS, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of more than 60 clinicians across HSS locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and South Florida. To find out more about how these athletes will be taken care of, M&F booked an appointment with Dr Williams III for a routine Q&A and soon gained insight into the types of injuries that are most concerning, and what can be done to keep the ball rolling.
Thanks for taking the time, Dr Williams! As the director of the FIFA Medical Center of Excellence at Hospital for Special Surgery, you have been named as the FIFA Venue Medical Officer (VMO) for the New York and New Jersey area in the 2026 World Cup. How proud are you to have been placed with such an important role?
Simply put, I am both honored and excited. My initial exposure to soccer medicine started in 2005, when Hospital for Special Surgery was first designated as a FIFA Medical Center of excellence. The World Cup is the most viewed sports event in the world. I feel that this is a keystone moment in my career, as I reflect upon over 25 years of taking care of high-level athletes. Having the World Cup final here in our backyard is amazing. I anticipate that the energy and buzz around New York City will be off the charts. To be honest, I can’t wait!
What are some of the physical demands placed on soccer players?
I started as medical director of the New York Red Bulls in 2005 and was appointed the director of the FIFA Medical Center of excellence at HSS in 2014. In that time, a have a wealth of knowledge has developed to help maintain the health and well-being of soccer athletes.
Soccer is a pivoting sport that is characterized by repetitive acceleration and deceleration movements, combined with a high volume of sprinting and running. In my opinion, high level soccer athletes are some of the most fit individuals in the world of sport. Maintaining high levels of cardiac fitness and lower body flexibility and strength is key in the prevention of injuries such as muscle strains, lower extremity joint sprains, and fatigue related conditions, like heat illness or dehydration.
During last year’s Club World Cup in 2025, field temperatures routinely exceeded 90°F. As such, there was a keen focus on maintaining proper hydration for the participants. I anticipate that this again will be an issue as the 2026 World Cup is being played during the summer months. It is estimated that a midfielder will run more than 11-12 miles during a match. Behind the scenes, my team will be assisting soccer teams who are based in the New York area, as well as those visiting for upcoming matches, maintaining player health and treatments to optimize performance and the prevention of injuries.
As an experienced orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, what have you observed to be some of the more common injuries that soccer players sustain?
Most elite soccer players are predisposed to a subset of injuries that are unique to soccer because of the nature of the sport. On the medical side, heat related illness, concussions, and cardiac related issues are always top of mind. Prior to matches, all athletes are thoroughly screened for cardiac health. These evaluations are meant to mitigate the risk of heart related issues during stressful match play conditions.
During matches, there is also “on the field” and remote player surveillance, specifically looking for potential medical issues in the participating athletes. Concussions are common because of the nature of the sport. This surveillance is designed to comprehensively assess the field of play and to make sure that these types of injuries, which can often be subtle, are not missed.
Lower body injuries such as ligament injuries, bone fractures, and soft tissue muscle strains are very common. Typically, these injuries will affect the feet, ankle and knee. As mentioned, the high-speed acceleration and pivoting that is inherent to the sport predispose participating athletes to these types of conditions. Proper training and exposure to these activities over time can also protect these high demand athletes from those types of issues.
How important is it for players to get settled into the New York/ New Jersey area before a match?
Most teams will arrive in their host locations and base of operations more than a week before their first match to become acclimated to the time zone. Again, this is a world competition, so proper rest and recovery is key to athlete performance. Sleep is an important part of this equation, as such, teams will do their best to allow time for the athletes to adjust once arriving in North America. In the days and hours leading up to matches, players are usually focused on nutrition, flexibility, hydration, and mental preparation. Most teams are keen to avoid over exertion prior to matches to preserve optimal performance.
Are there any health supplements that make sense for soccer players?
It is well documented that creatine can help with athletic performance. Creatine is a naturally occurring substance that helps muscles avoid fatigue and to optimally sustain resistance loads. In simpler terms, creatine allows an athlete to train longer and harder. This training then allows for increased strength and endurance. Creatinine is routinely used across many world sports. The only caveat is athletes who are on creatine need to be acutely aware of their hydration status, as creatine can be mildly dehydrating. Other supplements such as collagen are also used but their efficacy remains unclear.
Otherwise, athletes must be careful about what they ingest as there are many performance enhancing supplements that are barred during World Cup competitions. In general, most athletes and national teams are reluctant to routinely place their players on health supplements as the contents and compositions of these supplements are insufficiently regulated. Discovery of a banned substance will lead to the suspension of a player from the games. Most teams will not want to risk this possible outcome for what is perceived to be a marginal benefit.
If an injury does occur on the pitch, what processes will happen in terms of coordinating with local medical centers?
As part of our preparation here in the New York/New Jersey area, my team has set up a network of medical centers and supporting medical staff to address the entire spectrum of possible medical issues that might occur while teams are in market. These types of issues Include musculoskeletal, neurologic, cardiac, psychological, and general medical. As VMO, I am responsible for the assessment and proper triage of these issues as they arise during match play and beyond. Our network of supporting medical centers and providers understand the heightened nature and urgency in taking care of these athletes. I feel confident that we are more than ready to support these extraordinary athletes during their time here in the New York-New Jersey area.
How these injuries are handled largely depends on the nature of the injury. Most non-emergent musculoskeletal injuries will be handled here at Hospital for Special Surgery with me and my team. More acute injuries that occur during gameplay will be prioritized and triaged and sent to one of our supporting network medical centers in a timely fashion. Our medical partners stand ready and on call to handle any issues that arise during match play as well as off-hours.
The 2026 World Cup is the culmination of more than 25 years of work in the medical field for you. Are you ready?
Traditionally, the World Cup is the most viewed sporting event worldwide. I cannot stress how much of an honor and privilege it is to have the World Cup final being played here in the New York/New Jersey area. I have been a team physician for over 25 years and the ability to participate in this esteemed event is the cherry on top of what has already been a very satisfying and professionally fulfilling part of my career.
I am humble that FIFA would trust me with this role. And after over two years of detailed preparation for this specific event, I look forward to the games and all the energy and excitement that I’m sure will be a part of the tournament!
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, with the final set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
To follow “The Pro Sports Doc” on Instagram, click here.
from Muscle & Fitness https://ift.tt/0Izv1xe
via beheathandwellsness
Comments
Post a Comment