Cedars-Sinai and Select Medical, in Collaboration With Dignity Health, Launch Soccer Medicine Conference
Led by Cedars-Sinai, a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Global Experts Convene in Los Angeles to Advance Athlete Care and Innovation
As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches this summer, Cedars-Sinai and Select Medical, in collaboration with Dignity Health, will bring together leading sports medicine experts from around the world for an educational event focused on advancing athlete care at all levels.
The conference—Soccer Medicine Updates and New Innovations—is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. It will be co-hosted by the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and Select Medical, in partnership with Dignity Health. Additional participants include the six-time MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy, along with fellow FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence partners Duke University and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).
Cedars-Sinai, Duke University, and HSS represent the only three FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence in the United States, with Cedars-Sinai holding the designation since 2007.
“With the World Cup returning to the United States, this conference reflects our responsibility to share best practices that advance athlete safety and performance on a global stage,” said Bert Mandelbaum, MD, medical director of the Cedars-Sinai FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, interim chief medical officer of U.S. Soccer and co-chair of the conference. “By bringing together leading experts across disciplines, we aim to translate the latest research and innovation into real-world care for athletes at every level of the game.”
The program will include former and current soccer players and is designed for professional and lay audiences. Programming will explore evidence-based approaches to injury prevention, performance optimization and care for athletes of all levels from youth to adaptive and elite players.
“As the largest provider of outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine in the U.S., we are proud to partner with Cedars-Sinai to co-host this important event showcasing best practices in athlete injury prevention and recovery,” said Alan Evans, vice president of clinical programs and education, Outpatient Rehabilitation Division at Select Medical. “When clinicians, athletic trainers and performance specialists collaborate, we raise the standard of care and help athletes stay healthy, compete at their highest level and return to play safely. Together, we are advancing the future of sports medicine and strengthening the world’s athletic community.”
"We are honored to be part of this collaborative effort to advance athlete care and innovation during this exciting time for Los Angeles," said Julie Sprengel, California president of Dignity Health, a member of CommonSpirit Health. "This educational conference at the Dignity Health Sports Park embodies the shared commitment to excellence that Dignity Health has with Cedars-Sinai and Select Medical."
Advancing Innovation and Collaboration in Athlete Care
The FIFA World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the world, with 48 teams set to compete across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. Preparing athletes for competition at this scale requires coordinated, multidisciplinary care that spans emergency preparedness, injury management and return-to-play decision-making.
The conference will be in person and feature a dynamic format with internationally recognized faculty who specialize in all aspects of soccer. Programming will include interactive sessions, panel discussions and on-demand educational content, with continuing education credits available.
Sessions will focus on medical and performance challenges, including:
- Emergency action planning for sudden cardiac arrest and cardiac considerations for return to play
- Advances in concussion management and evolving safety regulations
- Mental health considerations
- Knee injury evaluation, treatment and evidence-based return-to-play guidelines
- Common soft tissue injuries and strategies that bridge performance and injury prevention
- Innovations in athlete care, including biologics, youth athlete considerations and burnout prevention
- Team-based, interprofessional approaches to athlete care
The conference Scientific Planning Committee is co-chaired by Mandelbaum and Josh Scott, MD, a nationally recognized sports medicine physician and venue medical director for World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles.
For more information about the conference and to register, click here.
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