Bloomberg reported on how the World Cup's share of older players has risen, with players in their mid-30s and older making up about 6% of the 48 national team squads in 2026. Riley J. Williams III, MD, Chief of the Sports Medicine Institute at HSS and FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup, weighed in on the trend and how players can stay in the game long-term.

Rather than the “run until you drop” philosophy of the 1980s, strategies promote tissue repair and energy recovery after intense training, Dr. Williams explained.

“These high-functioning players are very valuable, so you want to watch them, you want to preserve them, you want to give them feedback on a day-to-day basis with regard to how can we best preserve their ability,” continued Dr. Williams.

Surgical advances and physical therapy are also having an impact. Torn ligaments and Achilles injuries that used to be devastating can be surmounted with targeted rehabilitation to prevent muscle loss during recovery.

“The list of career-ending injuries has significantly decreased over the past 20 years,” he shared.

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