"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."
Six months before the June 11, 2026 opener in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa, teams face significant travel planning across three host countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Extensive distances between venues create logistical challenges for player recovery, scheduling and marginal gains that can influence tournament performance. Many players are based at European clubs, adding complexity to coordination. Historical experience from clubs across North America offers planning lessons. The 2022 World Cup in compact Qatar required minimal internal travel, but the 2026 tournament will demand more movement. Group-stage assignments differ: Mexico has the shortest travel, Canada the longest, and the U.S. will cover significant coast-to-coast trips.
Read at ESPN.com
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