Teesside research highlights World Cup travel challenge for elite football teams

New research co-authored by a Teesside University PhD graduate has revealed how extensive travel in North American football is perceived to be negatively impacting player performance and recovery – with findings particularly relevant during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The study was led by Luke Jenkinson, now Head of Human Performance at Major League Soccer club San Diego FC, and formed a key part of his doctoral research at Teesside University. It was co-authored with academics from the University’s School of Health & Life Sciences.

Published in Science and Medicine in Football, the research examines the effect of travel demands in elite North American soccer, where teams routinely cross vast distances and multiple time zones.

The findings come at a crucial time, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, a tournament that requires teams to travel thousands of miles between venues.

Drawing on surveys with medical and performance staff from professional clubs, the study found that travel duration, disrupted routines and sleep disturbance were among the most significant challenges facing players.

More than 90% of practitioners reported that the cumulative effect of travel across a season, or during congested fixture schedules, further worsens its impact on performance and recovery.

The research also highlights the sheer scale of travel involved in North American soccer. Teams may face flights of up to six hours and cross as many as three time zones for a single match, with some journeys spanning over 2,800 miles – distances far greater than those typically experienced in European leagues.

Similar challenges could also affect international teams at the 2026 World Cup, where travel logistics and recovery strategies are likely to play a crucial role in performance outcomes.

Luke Jenkinson said: 'Coaches, operation teams and performance staff understand that adaptation is not simply physiological but it is also a behavioral, psychological and operational stressor.

'Players must adapt not only to climate and environment but address the altered hydration requirements, sleep routines, nutritional timing, recovery demands and training tolerances.

'The challenge becomes even more complicated when these environmental stressors are layered on top of long-haul travel and compressed match schedules.

'In North American soccer, research has demonstrated that it is often not one isolated journey that creates problems, but the cumulative effect of repeated exposure over time exponentially increases these challenges.'

Teesside University has a strong and growing reputation in elite sport, maintaining ongoing research and knowledge exchange relationships with several professional teams in Major League Soccer. This latest study reflects that continued collaboration, bringing practitioner insight directly into applied research.

Professor Paul Chesterton, from Teesside University’s School of Health & Life Sciences, who also contributed to the paper, said: 'This research highlights that travel in elite North American soccer should not be viewed as isolated journeys, but as a cumulative load that can influence performance across a season.

'With the World Cup taking place across three countries, understanding how factors such as travel duration, time zones and disrupted sleep affect players is increasingly important.

'Our findings point to the need for careful planning and evidence-based strategies to minimise these impacts and support athlete performance at the highest level.'

The study identifies several practical steps that teams can take to mitigate the effects of travel, including prioritising sleep, optimising arrival times, managing nutrition and maintaining consistent routines wherever possible.

Researchers also found that arriving earlier in the day and avoiding late-night travel is believed to help reduce disruption, while staying overnight rather than travelling immediately after matches may support recovery.

While the impact of a single journey may be relatively small, the research shows that repeated travel, particularly during busy fixture periods, can have a meaningful effect on player readiness and performance over time.

The study forms part of Teesside University’s ongoing work to support elite sport through applied research, combining academic expertise with real-world professional practice in high-performance environments.

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