What World Cup teams do on their days off could decide who wins it all

Bob Bradley gave his United States national team one day off to do whatever they wanted between their last 2010 World Cup group stage match and the knockout round. This was a time to get away from the training pitch and the athletic trainer's table and explore South Africa. Most of the team, Stu Holden included, went golfing. A few stayed behind for some needed rehab. Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann wanted to experience the great outdoors. "He went out springbok hunting with some local guides and came back and made springbok jerky for the entire team," said Holden, who is on Fox's No. 1 announcing team for the 2026 World Cup . "He was a unique guy." Following an agreement last summer between FIFA and the global player union FIFPRO, players are required to have 72 hours of rest between matches. This World Cup, the biggest ever with 48 teams and an expanded schedule, has featured longer breaks between many matches, giving teams valuable time to recover, travel and prepare as they navigate the tournament. Teams have known the World Cup schedule for months, which means athletic training staffs have meticulously planned out training, travel and recovery days. Mistakes can still be made, however, as Norway found out in 1994. Beat the heat, but not with tennis Jan Åge Fjørtoft was a striker on that Norwegian side 32 years ago. The team's opening match was at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. before playing their final two at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Like what teams have experienced this summer, it was hot throughout the U.S. during the tournament. Taking care of your body was vital, but the team that had not been to a World Cup in 56 years didn't know any better. They were rookies, overloaded with excitement and inexperience.  "And then to add to the intense heat, one of our players organized a tennis tournament," said Åge Fjørtoft, now a pundit for ESPNFC. "So, in the middle of the day in the heat of 100 degrees, I had a three-set match against midfielder Erik Mykland." Norway finished 1-1-1 and failed to advance due to a tiebreaker after all four teams finished on four points. Managers want to keep in control of their squads during a World Cup. They understand poor preparation could lead to disaster and with only three group stage matches, one bad result could mean an early flight home. Team outings are typically organized by management to help build spirit within the camp and ensure no one is getting into trouble. U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola celebrates after Colombia scores an own goal for the U.S. during the 1994 World Cup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (Getty Images) David Cannon via Getty Images Tony Meola and the 1990 U.S. World Cup team saw the sights in Pisa, Italy, on a day trip. Twelve years later, manager Bruce Arena organized an team trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone with the American squad traveling by a Chinook during the 2002 tournament. "We did the whole tour there," said Meola, who now co-hosts “Counter Attack” on SiriusXM FC. "But there's not a lot of time, there's not really a desire to go around." While some teams may have the desire to be tourists during available free time, the U.S. players had been to the cities they played in, so taking a Hollywood tour wasn't on the itinerary before their two games in L.A. "Of course, with 48 teams you're going to have an awful lot of games on TV that I would imagine a lot of people want to watch," Meola added. A collective effort to prepare Mauricio Pochettino told his players before last summer's Gold Cup that they weren't there to "play golf." They were there to win. That message was only reinforced before this World Cup. "I get the sense the guy really means that. You're here for a reason," Meola said. "Let's understand this reason and be sure we're here for one reason. Anything else can wait." That's why the former players see the work of each team's manager and the staff behind them as crucial to finding success this summer. The planning and executing of training and recovery plans will only help lead to good results on the field. Coach Mauricio Pochettino of the United States Speaking to players at Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. John Dorton/USSF via Getty Images Meola said the extra days between matches allow coaches to do much more than simply rest tired legs. They provide time for tactical work, recovery, travel and keeping an entire squad mentally engaged through a tournament. "I think this is the single greatest opportunity that coaching will have an influence on a tournament outcome," Holden said. Former Norway international Åge Fjørtoft agreed, arguing that leadership may matter even more than tactics. The best coaches, he said, will have a clear plan not only for training and recovery but also for keeping the players who aren't starting engaged and ready when their opportunity comes The two teams that will be in the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium will have been hunkered down with their teammates for nearly seven weeks. That is many flights across North America and numerous nights in hotels away from their family and friends, but for good reason. This tournament only comes around once every four years and players have only so many opportunities to be a part of one. How teams approach recovery not only for body, but also for mind will greatly impact their ability to compete in the grind that is the World Cup. "The circumstances off the field will be as important as we've ever seen in the history of a World Cup," said Holden. "Very different to Qatar where when you were in one place, you were there in one hotel for 30-40 days. Here, teams have multiple training camps, they're traveling, they're in different hotels — something none of these teams have done in a long time. "The teams that can maximize that advantage will be the teams that will find the greatest success on the field."