Like millions of soccer fans around the world, I was glued to many of the matches of the 2026 World Cup. The tournament reminded Americans of something the rest of the world has known for generations: Soccer is more than a game. It is a lesson in teamwork, preparation, leadership, discipline, and perhaps most importantly, resilience.
As I watched, I realized that many of the lessons players learn from the game are the same lessons doctors should be instilling in their practice of medicine. Below are the top five takeaways that clinicians should learn from the World Cup.
Be Ready for the Next Play
In soccer, mistakes are inevitable. A player who misses an easy goal has two choices: become distracted by the error or put it behind him and refocus on the next opportunity.
Medicine is similar. Physicians are trained to be accurate, yet we practice in an environment of uncertainty. The important question is not whether a physician will make a mistake, but how quickly they can recover.
