HSS Chief of Sports Medicine, Riley J. Williams III, MD, Named FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup

FIFA World Cup 26™ has named Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), ranked No. 1 in orthopedics nationally by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025), Sports Medicine Surgeon, Riley J. Williams III, MD, as Venue Medical Officer (VMO) for the 2026 World Cup. The New York / New Jersey area will host matches, including the final, taking place in East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium.

In this role, Dr. Williams, Chief of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute, Medical Director and Head Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and New York Red Bulls, will serve as the liaison between FIFA and local medical providers, coordinating 24-hour medical care for all athletes and FIFA officials competing at the New York New Jersey World Cup location.

"The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of global sport, and it is a distinct honor to be appointed as VMO for some of the tournament's most high-profile matches," said Dr. Williams. "Ensuring the health and safety of athletes from around the world on this universal stage is a responsibility I take with the utmost seriousness, and I'm proud to represent HSS in partnership with FIFA to deliver world-class care to every player."

Dr. Williams spearheads the relationship between FIFA and HSS, building on the hospital's distinction as one of only three hospitals in the United States designated as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, an honor HSS has held since 2014 and continues to hold today. This recognition affirms FIFA's acknowledgment of HSS as one of the premier institutions that has demonstrated a high level of expertise in soccer across medicine, education, and research, including the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of injuries that may arise while playing the sport.

Dr. Williams specializes in knee, shoulder, and elbow surgery, with a focus on ACL and knee ligament repair and cartilage reconstruction following sports-related and orthopedic injuries. He serves as Chief of the Sports Medicine Institute at HSS, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of more than 60 clinicians across HSS locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and South Florida.

This announcement reinforces both organizations' commitment to advancing athlete health and performance while aligning with FIFA's medical mission to improve player health globally by setting standards in clinical care and governance, building a worldwide soccer medicine community, conducting and facilitating impactful research and education, and promoting equity and diversity in access to soccer medical knowledge. It also enhances the presence HSS has in soccer, complementing existing partnerships as the official hospital of the New York Red Bulls, US Youth Soccer, and FC Monmouth's men's and women's semi-professional clubs.