Looking for expert perspectives on the FIFA World Cup beyond match results and tactics?

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across the United States, Mexico and Canada, three football experts examine the challenges facing teams competing across multiple climate zones, vast travel distances and an increasingly demanding game.

• Carsten Hvid Larsen, Associate Professor and sports psychology consultant to the Danish Football Association (DBU), explains how pressure and mental balance can influence performance at the highest level.

• Chris Carling, football researcher at the University of Southern Denmark and former Head of Performance and Research at the French Football Federation, discusses how heat, travel, recovery and altitude may affect players during the tournament.

• Peter Krustrup, Professor and internationally recognised football researcher, explores how modern substitution rules have changed the demands of elite football and increased the importance of squad depth.

The articles are available here:

• Small mistakes can reveal when World Cup players are mentally off balance

• Heat may become the biggest challenge at the World Cup

• World Cups are no longer won by the best 11 players

•  Explore the full World Cup expert series here

Media representatives are welcome to contact the researchers directly for interviews and expert commentary related to the FIFA World Cup 2026.