U.S. men’s national team midfielder Weston McKennie opened up about the fitness changes he made over the summer as World Cup preparation continues.
McKennie, in a different role, operated off the right flank in a draw against Ecuador and a win over Australia—two results part of a USMNT camp, overall, that’s being celebrated given the positive momentum built heading into 2026 and a FIFA World Cup on home soil.
After the Ecuador friendly, the USMNT international revealed Juventus manager Igor Tudor pushed him to get healthier over the summer.
“I had a long preseason, my coach back at Juventus really put pressure on me and said, ‘Hey, you‘re getting older and your body is not going to be able to bounce back from games the way you used to be able to. You need to cut down some weight and that‘s the only way you‘re going to be involved in this team.‘ I put my head down, worked like I usually do, got on a diet, don‘t snack as much as used to anymore… I work out more often… a lot of running,” McKennie said to TNT Sports.
“This summer was the first summer I didn’t mind taking my shirt off at the pool!”
McKennie spoke with in September, further highlighting what steps he took to improve his fitness—specifically his focus on hydration while highlighting his partnership with Vita Coco, a coconut water brand that also boasts NFL stars Travis Hunter and Jaylen Waddle among others.
