The Football Association will provide England national football team players with personalised bedding and sleep aids at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Thomas Tuchel leaves no stone unturned in his quest to end the nation's long wait for glory.
The meticulous England boss is believed to have enlisted sleep specialists to ensure his squad are able to recover as effectively as possible during the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Among the players expected to benefit are captain Harry Kane and midfield star Jude Bellingham, with each member of the squad set to receive a bespoke "sleep kit" at the team's base in Kansas.
The Three Lions will stay at The Inn at Meadowbrook, near Kansas City, after booking out the entire hotel for the duration of their campaign.
According to The Sun, the standard mattresses and pillows at the hotel will be supplemented with customised toppers and cooling pillows designed to suit each player's body shape, weight and sleeping preferences.
The aim is to optimise sleep quality as England cope with long-distance travel, late kick-offs and potentially punishing heat and humidity.
Players are also expected to bring familiar items from home, including blankets and photographs of loved ones, in an effort to create a more comfortable and relaxing environment.
The Football Association will provide England national football team players with personalised bedding and sleep aids at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Thomas Tuchel leaves no stone unturned in his quest to end the nation's long wait for glory
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Additional equipment will include contoured eye masks to block out light and specialist earplugs to reduce external noise.
The emphasis on sleep is part of a wider performance strategy developed in conjunction with the UK Sports Institute.
Performance innovation consultant Dr Luke Gupta, who has previously worked with England women's national football team and Team GB, has been advising the FA on recovery protocols.
Thomas Tuchel is leaving no stone unturned as he looks to steer England to World Cup glory
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He has encouraged players not to panic if they struggle to sleep immediately after evening matches and to use daytime naps as part of what he describes as "recovery sleep".
Former England sleep coach Nick Littlehales explained why these marginal gains are increasingly important in elite sport.
"These days everything in football is about maximising performance margins and sleep is a very important factor," he said.
"If Harry Kane sleeps better on a special mattress or pillow, or wants his favourite teddy bear, that's what he'll get."
England have used similar methods at previous tournaments.
England will face Croatia, Panama and Ghana at this summer's World Cup
| PADuring the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, blackout blinds were installed to combat the near-constant daylight in St Petersburg.
Custom sleep arrangements were also part of the setup at UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, where England reached the final before losing to Spain national football team.
Tuchel will hope the latest attention to detail helps his side go one step further this summer.
England open their World Cup campaign against Croatia national football team in Dallas on June 17, with dreams of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1966.