Episode 135: The 2026 World Cup Through the Eyes of USMNT Athletic Trainer Derek Lawrance

In this episode of Inside Athletic Training, we sit down with Derek Lawrance, Assistant Athletic Trainer for the United States Men's National Team. Derek just came off one of the most intense and high-profile assignments any athletic trainer in the country could have — serving on the medical staff for the U.S. squad during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted right here on American soil. From the preparation and logistics of keeping elite international players healthy through a tournament of that magnitude, to the pressure and adrenaline of working on the biggest stage in global sports, Derek takes us inside what that experience was really like. We also dig into his career in professional soccer, how he got to the national team level, and what the day-to-day demands of working in professional soccer look like for an athletic trainer.For more information about PBATS and athletic training, visit pbats.com.