Aspetar Magazine 2026

61 ASPETAR MAGAZINE SPECIAL REPORT How does medical preparation for a World Cup differ from routine international orclubcompetitions? The World Cup does not begin on the first day of the tournament. It starts at least a season before. Players arrive from different clubs, continents, and competitive levels, with different workloads and injury histories. Yet they all come together with one objective: to play, no matter what. The World Cup is often a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity. Nobody wants to miss it. This creates a unique medical challenge, managing pre-existing issues and translating them into availability within a very short and intense period. What were the main priorities ahead of 2010 and 2014? In South Africa, altitude was our main concern. Preparation focused on acclimatisation. In Brazil, distances and travel were the biggest challenge. Recovery logistics became critical: when to travel, where to sleep, how to manage fatigue. Each tournament brings different priorities, and preparation must adapt accordingly. Interview with Dr Cristiano Each tournament brings different priorities.