The World Cup Workout

There are few things on this planet that I love more than the World Cup. It combines my extreme patriotism with my love for soccer and day drinking. The fact that it only happens once every four years is probably better for my health.

usa outfit world cup workout

A real outfit that I own and wear frequently.

The USA men kick off against Ghana on Monday at 5pm Central, and you bet your star-spangled banner that I’ll be sneaking out of work early to catch the game at one of the bars occupied by the American Outlaws (my own version of #RiskEverything). Anyway, since I’m going to be watching a lot of soccer in the upcoming weeks, I figured I’d take a page out of my March Madness book and create a workout based on the beautiful game. If you’re planning on catching a few games, have this page pulled up to keep you off your butt for 90ish minutes (or, alternatively, feel free to just perform the workout for one half). And if you need a little extra motivation… these people believe that you can do it.

 

And now, the workout:

 

world cup workout
Image via Flickr user ecpelotas via Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Throughout the workout, keep a boxer’s shuffle going when you’re not doing one of the moves below.

Kickoff: 60 seconds of jumping jacks to get the blood pumping

Shot on goal (one that the goalie has to save): Twenty mountain climbers

Shot (saved by a defender or goes out of bounds): Five burpees

Corner kick: Ten lunge jumps

Goal kick Ten squat jumps

Header: Tuck jump

Slide tackle: Ten speed skaters

Throw in: Ten push-ups

GOAL!: Five star jumps and run a celebratory lap around your room (bonus points if you rip your shirt off a la Brandi Chastain)

Penalty kick in the box: Hold a squat from when the ref blows his whistle til the shooter kicks the ball. If it goes in, shoot up into a squat jump to celebrate. If it misses, go to a plank for 30 seconds.

Yellow card: Ten tricep push-ups

Red card: Fifteen froggers

Halftime bonus workout! 10 pushups, 20 star jumps, 30 mountain climbers, 40 squats, 50 seconds of high knees.

If your team loses: One star jump per point differential

If they tie: Hold a plank for 60 seconds

If your team wins: You win the workout!

Anyone else hyped for the World Cup?

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About Kristen Geil

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Kristen moved to Chicago in 2011 and received her MA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse from DePaul while trying to maintain her southern accent. Kristen grew up playing sports, and since moving to Chicago, she’s fallen in love with the lakefront running path and the lively group fitness scene. Now, as a currently retired marathoner and sweat junkie, you can usually find her trying new workouts around the city and meticulously crafting Instagram-friendly smoothie bowls. Kristen came on to A Sweat Life full-time in 2018 as Editor-in-Chief, and she spends her days managing writers, building content strategy, and fighting for the Oxford comma.

3 thoughts on “The World Cup Workout”

  1. I have at least 14 sore muscles that I’ve never felt before after doing this workout. Best part? When I was doing it – I didn’t even feel like I was working out because it was so fun! Thanks, Jeana! Can’t wait to do the workout during some DVR’d matches each night this week.

    2. You’re killing it, Eliza! Kristen is the only one who knows anything about sports around here, so she concocts the amazing workouts for sports games.

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