UNF alum uses physical therapy expertise to help U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team ahead of 2026 World Cup

As anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, University of North Florida alumna Lauren Church ('16) is helping prepare the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team as its director of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

"We have been building toward this moment for the past four years, and we are ready," she said.

The Hagerstown, Maryland native was drawn to UNF by its academics, athletics, campus environment and location. It was also where her twin sister, Morgan, was the associate head women's soccer coach at the time. A former athlete herself, Lauren Church was interested in UNF's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

"I understood how important movement, injury recovery and performance are, and I wanted to help others return to the things they love while combining science, problem-solving and patient care," she said.

Her DPT cohort at UNF was like a family. Whether it was the stress of practical preparation, the lingering smell of formaldehyde from the cadaver lab or the fear of a Dr. Sherry Pinkstaff exam that pushed her to her limits, those memories remind her how much the UNF faculty invested in her success.

"I always felt like my faculty genuinely cared about my success, not only academically, but also as a future professional," she said.

After graduation, she pursued advanced training through orthopedic and sports physical therapy residencies and worked in professional sports, including World Wrestling Entertainment. She continued building experience in rehabilitation, return-to-play and performance medicine. Combined with her soccer background, industry connection and volunteer work with U.S. Soccer youth events, she landed her current role in 2023.

Church's team consists of two athletic trainers, one athletic trainer/physician assistant, one hybrid physio and a physician. Their responsibilities include overseeing rehabilitation, injury management, return-to-play planning and overall player health strategies. She works closely with physicians, athletic trainers, strength coaches, sport scientists, clubs and external medical teams to support player availability, performance and long-term health. She also helps guide screening processes, objective testing, medical operations, staff collaboration and preparation for major competitions.

Across both WWE and U.S. Soccer, she's worked with incredible individuals, athletes, coworkers and coaches. She loves collaboration with smart, driven people across medicine, performance and coaching to support the team. Soccer has also given her the opportunity to travel around the world.

"But what I love most about my job is game day - especially winning and seeing the players succeed," she said.

As the World Cup approaches, not much will change in terms of preparation, Church said.

The biggest difference from a typical camp is the mental challenge of being on the road for nearly two months. Still, she's excited to see the Beautiful Game return to the United States.

"I know what this group is capable of, and I have watched our roster continue to grow stronger over the past few years," she said. "I am excited to see us put everything together when it matters most, competing against some of the best players and countries in the world."