The World Cup Effect: Why Watching Sports Inspires Movement
- Dr. Gregory Lowe PT, DPT, cert. MDT, CSCS
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
Have you ever noticed that during the Olympics you suddenly want to go for a run? Or that watching the World Cup makes you want to kick a soccer ball around in the backyard?
Research indicates that major sporting events can literally inspire people to be more physically active…but why??
Part of the answer may lie in how our brains experience movement—not just physically, but mentally as well.
When watching elite athletes compete, it’s common to mentally place ourselves into the action– imagining sprinting down the field, making the pass, or celebrating after scoring the goal.
Sports psychologists call this mental imagery, or visualization.
Visualization is more than just daydreaming though…
Research demonstrates that mentally rehearsing movements can improve confidence, focus, and performance in athletes.
In fact, certain areas of the brain involved in performing a movement actually become active when we vividly imagine ourselves doing it!
That’s one reason visualization is such a powerful tool in sports!
Elite athletes often spend time mentally rehearsing specific skills, competition scenarios, and how they’ll respond under pressure.
A soccer player may mentally practice nailing a penalty kick, a basketball player might imagine making free throws in a noisy arena, and a runner might visualize kicking hard during the final stretch of a race…
These mental rehearsals don’t replace physical practice, but they absolutely complement it.
By repeatedly imagining successful performances, athletes can improve confidence, sharpen concentration, and feel more prepared when the real moment arrives.
So, what does this have to do with the World Cup?
While watching a soccer match and visualizing yourself on the field won’t instantly make you fitter or turn you into an elite athlete, it may help explain why major sporting events often inspire us to move more.
By mentally putting ourselves in the action, we begin to reconnect with what movement feels like– remembering the excitement of playing sports as kids, competing with friends, or simply moving for the joy of it.
And once we can picture ourselves moving, we’re often more motivated to actually do it.
Maybe that’s why events like the World Cup and Olympic Games seem to get the whole world moving!
During these worldwide sporting events, athletes execute incredible performances and we suddenly feel inspired to go for a run, kick a soccer ball around, sign up for a race, or simply get outside and be active ourselves.
That’s the beauty of sports!
They remind us that movement isn’t just about checking boxes, burning calories, or following specific workout plans. Movement can be playful, social, challenging, and inspiring.
So if watching the World Cup makes you want to grab a soccer ball, go for a run, play with your kids in the backyard, or simply go for a walk outside—lean into it!
That little spark of inspiration might be your brain’s way of saying, it’s time to get moving!
At AWAKEN, we believe movement is meant to be fun! Sometimes all it takes is a little inspiration to remind us of what our bodies are capable of—and the World Cup is giving us plenty of inspo this month!
Written By: Mackenzie Lowe and Dr. Gregory Lowe PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, cert. MDT, CSCS, RRSC
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