E116: The World Cup Effect - Fans, Finance and Football's Future

In this episodeof the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by former British No.1 and Wimbledon champion Jayant Mistry, Professor Vicky Tolfrey, and Dr Thomas Rietveld to explore how athlete experience, research and technology have driven the sport's evolution. From custom-built chairs and performance science to Wimbledon and the future of the game, discover how innovation continues to shape wheelchair tennis.01:00 Wimbledon reflections and how the sport has evolved05:00 Jayant Mistry's journey from local courts to Wimbledon champion08:50 Vicky Tolfrey's introduction to parasport research13:45 How Thomas Reitveld became a wheelchair tennis researcher16:45 The evolution of wheelchair tennis chairs21:00 Science meets sport: Optimising wheelchair performance27:20 Customised chairs, technology and performance gains32:20 Turning athlete ideas into research questions36:40 Court surfaces, Wimbledon grass and equipment regulations38:30 Accessibility, participation and getting started in wheelchair tennis44:20 Emerging research: surfaces, sensors and performance analysis46:20 Classification debates and inclusivity in wheelchair tennis53:50 The future of wheelchair tennis over the next decade

Recorded in the week before England's World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Johan Rewilak (Loughborough University) and Ambar Ferra (Houston Dynamo) to discuss the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the heart of the host nation. From packed fan festivals and record attendances to ticket prices, the Messi effect and the future of soccer in the USA, they explore whether this tournament can create a lasting legacy for fans, clubs and communities. Plus, their World Cup predictions before the knockout stage drama unfolded.

In this episode of Experts in Sport, we explore the hidden world behind World Cup success — performance analysis. From data and video to real-time decision-making, discover how analysts and coaches use cutting-edge technology to gain a competitive edge when margins are razor-thin.Host Martin Foster is joined by Brad Pryjmachuk (Hudl) and Donald Barron (Loughborough University) to unpack how teams prepare for major tournaments, adapt under pressure, and translate complex data into winning strategies. They discuss everything from analysing opponents and managing player performance in extreme conditions, to the psychology of penalties and the evolving role of AI in sport.05:01 What Performance Analysis Looks Like at a World Cup11:31 Pre-Tournament Prep vs In-Tournament Adaptation14:41 Data Overload & Decision-Making20:31 Individual Players & Tactical Game Plans26:31 Technology & Evolution of the Analyst Role30:31 Penalties, Psychology & Marginal Gains42:00 Tactical Trends at This World Cup57:11 Future of Performance Analysis 01:04:31 Predictions

What does it take to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? In this episode, host Martin Foster is joined by experts Dr Lee Taylor, Dr Chris Esh, Professor Christa Janse van Rensburg, and Dr Valérie Bougault to break down the science behind competing across extreme heat, altitude, long-haul travel, and challenging environments. From heat acclimation and recovery strategies to jet lag and air quality, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how teams prepare for football’s biggest stage.2026 World Cup 3:46Heat Preparation 5:45Travel and Sleep 19:51Altitude 29:11Air Quality 40:07Working together 49:21Who is going to win? 54:35

In this episode of the Experts in Sport, we explore the global role of FIFA as the world builds towards the FIFA World Cup. Host Martin Foster is joined by FIFA high-performance specialists Richard Allen and former international footballer Philippe Senderos, the discussion goes beyond the tournament itself to examine how football is developed worldwide—from grassroots talent pathways to global policy, investment, and opportunity. Blending personal insight with expert analysis, the episode offers a unique look at how the World Cup shapes the game on and off the pitch.What does a World Cup feel like? 5:54Philippe's highlights 13:14What has changed? 20:39FIFA's role 23:18Development worldwide 28:01This World Cup 49:33Who's going to win? 55:56

This episode of Experts in Sport dives into the controversial launch of the Enhanced Games. Host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Alex Thurston and Dr Mat Dowling, speaking live from Las Vegas, the discussion explores what really happened at sport’s most debated new event—unpacking performance, ethics, athlete welfare, and whether this represents the future of sport or simply a bold marketing experiment.Enhanced Games in reality 2:02Views of the games 16:59Transparency and preparation 41:07Market value 47:51The future 53:39

In this episode, we explore how climate change is already reshaping sport-from extreme heat disrupting elite competitions to flooded grassroots pitches across the UK.Host Martin Foster is joined by Elliot Brown, Sustainability Manager at Loughborough University, and Jess Silva, co‑founder of Carbon Jacked, to unpack both the challenges and the opportunities facing the sports industry.From decarbonising Olympic‑standard facilities to launching innovative initiatives like the Climate Cup and even turning litter picking into a competitive sport, this conversation shows how creativity, communication and leadership can drive real change.It’s an honest conversation about where sport is falling short-but also a powerful look at how it can inspire millions to act. The message is simple: sustainability doesn’t have to be boring, and everyone-from elite athletes to grassroots clubs-has a role to play.Find out more about the Climate Cup: https://carbonjacked.com/theclimatecupSport and Climate Change 7:06Loughborough uni and sustainability 15:22Carbon Jacked 25:31The Climate Cup 32:08Getting involved 45:56

In this special episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Professors Wendy Brown and Stuart Biddle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University.Recording from Australia, the guests reflect on their early careers at Loughborough, the evolution of sport and exercise science, and the lasting impact of the “Loughborough family” across research, teaching and practice worldwide. The conversation spans women’s physiology, physical activity and public health, psychology, applied practice, and the changing pathways for students and researchers over the past five decades.This episode offers a rich, personal perspective on how Loughborough helped shape global sport science-past, present and future-as the university marks 50 years of excellence in sport, exercise and health.Intros 0:00At Loughborough 6:47Wendy in Australia 17:29Stuart's evolution 31:04Quickfire 41:19Setting goals 52:09Fitness testing children 54:04Advice 56:44

Join Experts in Sport as Mega Event Advisor Richard Watton (UK Sport) and Dr. Verity Postlethwaite (Loughborough University) talk to host Martin Foster and unpack why cities host major, mega and giga sporting events. From bidding processes and global collaboration to economic impact, social legacy and the future of event delivery, this episode reveals how well‑planned events can shape communities for decades.

In this episode of Experts in Sport, Professors Paul Downward, Larissa Davies and Simon Shibli speak with host Martin Foster, unpacking the real value of sport and physical activity beyond pounds and pence. From wellbeing gains to NHS savings, community cohesion to volunteering, the panel explores how Social Return on Investment (SROI) evidence is reshaping policy, funding, and local decision‑making across the UK.Measuring SROI 3:55Negative impacts 21:52Wider health value 26:18Examples in communities 35:59Quantifying data 49:09The future 57:08