Why Soccer Players Do Yoga

By Jaanu

We are experiencing an interesting moment in the history of yoga as professional athletes start exploring how longevity can factor into their playing. The FIFA World Cup this summer was studded with stars who have been in the game for 20 years. Mohamed Salah represented Egypt in the Cup and put in an impressive showing across 5 total group-stage and knockout games.

It’s no secret that Salah’s incredible conditioning has contributed to his longitudinal impacts. After scoring against his former team, Chelsea, in the Premier League with Liverpool, Salah took on the tree pose pictured. In post-game interviews, Salah described himself as a “yoga man.”

He is a notorious gym rat but has found yoga to improve core strength and stability, allowing him to twist his body when moving at high speeds. It also allows him to approach high stress moments with more equanimity. He has focused on regulating his breathing and meditating more before games.

The English national team has begun to practice yoga, after a penalty shootout loss in the 2018 World Cup. The coaching team recognized the need for something to offset the feeling of being physically and emotionally drained. Anthony Gordon told the BBC in 2024 that Salah had inspired him to take up meditation too. Meditation and visualization allows him to “trust in [his] ability”, resist overthinking, and find total confidence. ⚽️