Brainwave technology is USMNT’s secret World Cup penalty shootout weapon

The U.S. men's national soccer team, under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, has been using brainwave technology from German company Neuro11 since January 2025 to help players prepare for penalty shootouts ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Players were fitted with high-tech devices during training camps to monitor brain activity while taking penalties, allowing staff to measure focus and concentration and assess each player's optimal approach. The initiative is part of a broader working group effort to gain marginal advantages in shootouts and set pieces, as several top nations have already been eliminated by penalty shootouts in the tournament.