So begins the countdown to the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday June 11, 2026 in Mexico City when El Tri take on South Africa. With just six months to go, final preparations are now on the table following last Friday’s draw for the tournament.

In addition to tactics and on-the-field plans, teams will now have to consider the off-the-field logistics of lengthy travel that will run through the three North American host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Keeping in mind the hundreds if not thousands of miles that the participants will have to cover, travel arrangements and planning is no straightforward task.

In a sport that is often laser-focused on finding and exploiting the marginal gains that can sometimes make or break your quest to win a championship, and one in which the globe’s best of the best play for clubs in smaller European nations, there is a lot to keep in mind for every team set to do battle in North America next summer.

Luckily for those who are mapping out their North American plans, there are previous lessons that have been learned by clubs across the continent who know plenty about traversing down those beaten paths.

At the previous 2022 edition in Qatar, national teams quickly traversed a country that’s smaller in square miles than Connecticut, but when they arrive in North America next summer, it’s safe to say they might need to do just a little more moving around.

2026 World Cup group-stage travel at a glance

• Of the three host nations for next summer’s World Cup, Mexico has the most gentle travel for their three group stage games against South Korea, South Africa and a playoff qualifier from UEFA (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia or Republic of Ireland), with Canada traveling the longest distances to face Qatar, Switzerland and a different playoff qualifier from UEFA (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina). The U.S. will travel between Seattle and Los Angeles for their group matches against Paraguay, Australia and a playoff qualifier from UEFA (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo).

• Some of the hopefuls to win it all in North America next summer face wildly different travel experiences. Holders Argentina will face little logistical difficulty with their games in Dallas and Kansas City, while 2022 runners-up France also face a generous schedule keeping them in the north-east for the duration of Group I. The biggest losers? England, who will be in Massachusetts and Texas for their games against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

• The 2026 World Cup across three countries provides more complex travel arrangements than Qatar 2022, for obvious reasons given the smaller size of that host nation, but this might be a lighter load than Brazil 2014, which saw teams traveling on average more than 2,000 miles more during the group stage.

The repercussions of long travel

Some people do postgraduate work in medicine; others dive into philosophy or chemistry. San Diego FC‘s head of human performance Luke Jenkinson says, “My PhD is investigating the impact of travel in North American soccer.”

Jenkinson, author of a paper in review called “Crossing Time Zones and Touch Lines” for the Journal of Sports Sciences, was quick to note what can happen after such lengthy excursions. Like the usual rhythms of a 90-minute game, the personal patterns of fine-tuned players are disrupted by travel fatigue, which can alter their circadian rhythms. Sleep disturbances are an obvious negative result — any frequent flyer can tell you that — but it can also change how players can metabolize meals.

“Potential increases with digestive distress, which is an important one, because it’s uncomfortable and it’s not pleasant,” said Jenkinson, who helped San Diego FC achieve MLS’s best away record this season. “If we have gastrointestinal distress, the absorption of those nutrients, and in particular, those carbohydrates, can be significantly impacted, and then also from a hydration perspective.”

Tired, missing crucial nutrients and probably irritated due to “digestive distress,” it’s no surprise what happens to teams that don’t properly mitigate these issues.

“You can see it so many times. Tons of muscle injuries occur during all those trips and lack of recovery,” said Jon Poli, head of physical preparation for the 2025 MLS Cup finalists, Vancouver Whitecaps.

These long trips aren’t entirely for sitting still, either; flight time is also valuable recovery time.

“[We] make sure that we get up and move, not just sit in the seats the entire time,” said Pacific FC coach James Merriman, who has to make a staggering 5,574-mile round trip (to face HFX Wanderers in Halifax, Nova Scotia) during his furthest away game in the Canadian Premier League. “Make sure that the players are up, getting a little activation and movement, stretching. It’s bad, it’s tough, it’s difficult. But you have to move past it.”

Another possible pitfall national teams could face next year — particularly when needing to cross more than a time zone or two through the scorching summer heat — is an unexpected one.

“I would say the biggest mistake … more than anything, teams actually sometimes go a little too early,” Poli said. “Some teams will travel two days before and they’re trying to transition players. Game time could come around, and the player’s circadian rhythm is kind of all out of whack.”

With all this in mind, what could be done? For the host countries such as the United States, Canada and Mexico, they will not do much traveling compared to their other competitors. The US and Mexico will even stay in the same region.

The extra 1% to 2%: Mattresses, pancakes, lack of spicy food

Think of a typical flight. After having a few too many beverages en route to your vacation, you’re then greeted by the most notorious enemy of anyone on holiday: an uncomfortable hotel bed.

For Mathias Jørgensen, a Denmark international for the LA Galaxy who took part in the 2018 World Cup, this was no problem a handful of years ago.

“There’s so many things that go into it to get those extra 1% or 2%. Denmark had a little partnership with a brand called Tempur — we were traveling with special mattresses so that wherever we went, we had our mattresses,” said the 35-year-old defender. “If the players wanted it, they would be transferred to every hotel we stayed at.”

In 2018, similar conversations about long distances were happening for the World Cup in Russia. Despite the fact that Denmark traveled 3,852 miles in the group stage — including to their base camp at the Sheraton Moscow Sheremetyevo hotel — Jørgensen highlighted his federation’s attention to detail that helped them qualify for the knockout round, where he later scored.

“With nutrition, with sleep, with everything,” Jørgensen said. “All the small things and getting [it] right.”

Regarding nutrition, part of San Diego FC’s “fuel and load” strategy prepares four meals from the night before an away match until kickoff on the day of the game. To avoid any stomach problems, there’s a limited amount of spicy flavors that go into these meals — although hot sauce is available. A variety of food options cater to the MLS club’s global roster, and there’s variation for a wide swath of palates, but there is one prematch secret weapon that helps those who need an extra boost of energy after an extended trip.

“In England, we would have a lot of American-style pancakes as our prematch meal,” Jenkinson said. “It’s a very easy way to consume levels of carbohydrates that are hyper-palatable.”

As well as pancakes for San Diego, morning team walks ahead of away matches are used to increase alertness before kickoff, and depending on the flight, the club can have a dim cabin for rest, or a fully lit plane when attempting to keep their players from going to sleep too early.

With an increase in MLS using chartered flights — something national teams will have next summer — there’s a flexibility that’s available for organizations that can turn planes into mobile locker rooms.

“We’re fortunate, obviously, that we fly not on commercial flights,” said Poli, who painted a picture of a cabin with Normatec compression boots, electrical stimulators, massages and players stretching. Unlike the CPL, or MLS from the days of 2013 MLS Cup winner Benny Feilhaber, private planes are a world of a difference for those who can use them.

“Sitting middle seat on a Southwest flight is a little different than flying charter,” joked Feilhaber.

The mentality game

Logistically, there’s also much more that goes into World Cup or club soccer preparation when you consider the small army of coaches, support staff, administrators, communications team members and more that will guide the players.

FIFA, seeking to minimize some of those logistical headaches, has separated the competition into west, central and east regions, thereby ensuring that there will be three days of rest for teams in 103 of the tournament’s 104 matches.

According to FIFA, no national team will need to fly coast to coast in the group stage. Base camp selections are also expected to be announced by January.

That said, when discussing travel, there’s no overlooking the uncontrollable variables that next summer’s weather could bring, from scorching temperatures or thunderstorms. Flight cancellations, delays — Feilhaber shared a story of once being stuck at an airport for six extra hours — are par for the course in North America.

A possible final piece for overcoming this beyond mattresses or chartered planes? Whether it be through experience in the more modest CPL, or the World Cup itself, one vital factor that was brought up was the right state of mind.

“I think the most important [thing] is the mentality. … Try not to make too big of a deal of it,” Pacific FC’s Merriman said. “If you see players drag themselves through it, or make comments about it, things like that, then for sure you’re going to feel the travel, you’re going to feel the time difference, all those things.”

Jørgensen, in a message to those heading out next summer, stressed that it’s an opportunity to take advantage of.

“Being lucky enough to visit different countries is like a blessing,” he said. “Recovery is just as much mental as it is physical.

“Come in there with a great mindset, you do your things, you hydrate, you make sure that you’ve done everything you have, and then you’re smiling and enjoying being a part of the biggest tournament in the world, the biggest sporting event in the world.”

We’ll see who is left smiling after covering thousands of miles next year.

EXCLUSIVE: Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., plan to go to bat for college athletes to help secure their futures by investing their name, image and likeness (NIL) earnings.

Blackburn and Cantwell introduced the Helping Undergraduate Students Thrive with Long-Term Earnings (HUSTLE) Act, according to a release obtained by Fox News Digital. The senators said college athletes would get the opportunity to put money into “tax-advantaged investment accounts for student athletes, require trustees to provide financial education, and establish regulations to prevent abuse.”

The senators vowed that the HUSTLE Act would also help college athletes improve their financial literacy and better navigate the Wild West of NIL.

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“College athletes are now earning billions of dollars from their name, image, and likeness—and rightly so. We must empower these students to safeguard their financial future and protect themselves against rogue agents,” Blackburn said in a statement. “The HUSTLE Act would allow college athletes to invest their earnings in a tax-advantaged account that grows over time, strengthen financial education, and create safeguards to prevent exploitation by dishonest agents.”

Cantwell hoped that college athletes would no longer be taken advantage of by “unscrupulous agents.”

“This bill focuses in on the financial security and safety of college athletes who – finally – are earning compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL),” Cantwell added. “Many of these athletes will be in a unique situation where they will earn NIL income during a relatively brief period of their careers. Our bill will set up a specific NIL Account where they can set aside some of that income and build long-term savings.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaks as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 7, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“The bill also will protect athletes and their NIL earnings against financial exploitation by unscrupulous agents. Since athletes have been able to earn NIL, some have been victimized by agents who have charged shockingly high commissions or have tried to take ownership of the athlete’s intellectual property rights. Our bill will rein in these abuses and require agents to register with a state.”

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Under the HUSTLE Act, college athletes will be able to use NIL earnings up to the annual gift-tax exclusion amount to an NIL investment account, allowing their funds to grow tax-free. The bill would allow up to $35,000 in unused NIL account funds to be rolled over into an IRA or retirement account once the athlete has been out of college athletics for at least a year.

Trustees would be required to provide financial education to ensure athletes know how to manage their money. The HUSTLE Act would also direct the Treasury Department to draw up regulations to prevent abuse and exploitation, report and track contribution limits and define other expenses.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., during a confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The HUSTLE Act would also update the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act. Athlete agents would have to register with a state before being able to represent athletes in NIL deals. Agent fees would be capped at 5% and certify their registration to whichever athletic association that governs the athlete’s sport.

Deceptive practices would be banned, and national governing bodies would be required to put together an online registry of registered and certified athlete agents to increase transparency for athletes and their families.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey was among those who endorsed the HUSTLE Act.

“The Southeastern Conference is grateful for the continued engagement of lawmakers in addressing the evolving needs of student-athletes,” he said in a statement. “The HUSTLE Act represents a constructive approach by establishing tax-advantaged NIL investment accounts that encourage financial education, long-term savings, and responsible management of earnings.

UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) drives to the basket as DePaul guard Devin Hagemann (7) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Storrs, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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“We appreciate Congress’s sustained bipartisan commitment to developing national, consistent standards that support student-athletes and enhance their opportunities in this rapidly changing environment.”

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Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber wants to use his sides’s last-gasp defeat at Aston Villa as motivation to get their Premier League title bid back on track.

The Gunners saw an 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions end as Emiliano Buendía scored the with the last kick of the game to give Villa a 2-1 win.

It turned into a damaging day for Mikel Arteta’s side as their lead at the summit was cut to just two points after Manchester City beat Sunderland.

But Timber, who had to play at centre-back amid an injury crisis, says his side need to use the loss to drive them on.

“I think in the end you need to use it as a motivation and in the end as a strength, because it happened and we need to accept it and we need to get better,” he said.

“At the same time, within the season, I think these moments happen, set-backs, and you just have to step up after that.”

Timber, usually a right-back, was forced to play in the middle with injuries to central pair William Saliba and Gabriel.

Cristhian Mosquera has also been ruled out for “weeks” with an ankle problem and Timber says the fitness issues have disrupted Arsenal’s campaign.

“Yes, it is [a disruption],” he said. “I think we have a great squad. I think players that come in always do really good, but obviously it’s not always easy.

“We can’t play every week with the same players and if players go out again, it’s tough.

“But I think it’s also part of… it happens within the season.

“I think it happens at every club. With us it’s the same and we just have to manage that with and win our games.”

Victory for Villa announced their arrival in the title race as they moved to within three points of Arsenal.

– Cristhian Mosquera injury blow confirmed after Villa defeat
– Arteta: Arsenal ‘open’ to January transfers after injuries
– Salah’s Liverpool outburst has shades of Ronaldo’s United exit

Unai Emery’s side are on a roll, winning nine of their last 10 Premier League games.

They took the lead at Villa Park through Matty Cash‘s opener but were pegged back by Leandro Trossard early in the second half.

Buendia’s goal sparked mass scenes of celebration at the death.

Cash said on the club’s official website: “We’ve got to take it game by game and just keep working hard and taking it in our stride.

“At the minute, we’re on a great run, but we know it’s not even Christmas yet.

“We have to keep being demanding, keep being consistent and we’ll see where it takes us.”