FIFA World Cup 26 has named Riley J. Williams III, MD, Sports Medicine Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, as Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup, according to a June 3 announcement. Matches will be held in the New York / New Jersey area, including the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In his new role, Williams will serve as liaison between FIFA and local medical providers and coordinate round-the-clock medical care for athletes and FIFA officials competing at the location. He is Chief of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute and serves as Medical Director and Head Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and New York Red Bulls.
“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.”
Williams leads HSS’s relationship with FIFA; HSS has been designated a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence since 2014—one of only three such hospitals in the United States—which recognizes its expertise in soccer medicine across clinical care, education, research, injury diagnosis and rehabilitation. The hospital specializes in orthopedic care aimed at improving mobility while advancing research in orthopedic surgery and rheumatology; it also holds multiple Magnet designations for nursing excellence, according to its official website.
Williams specializes in knee, shoulder, and elbow surgery focused on ligament repair following sports-related injuries. He leads more than 60 clinicians across HSS locations spanning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and South Florida.
The appointment supports both organizations’ commitment to athlete health by setting standards in clinical care globally while enhancing HSS’s presence through partnerships such as being official hospital of teams like New York Red Bulls.
