England soccer stars banned from consuming two frequent meals earlier than Norway World Cup match
England will take on Norway in Miami on Saturday night in the quarter final of the 2026 World Cup
England’s Harry Kane (centre), Ollie Watkins (centre right), Nico O’Reilly (right) and Declan Rice celebrate after the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
A football chef who has cooked for some of England’s biggest stars has lifted the lid on what the Three Lions squad will be eating this week to prepare for the Norway clash – plus revealed the everyday condiment that’s likely banned.
Jonny Marsh, known as ‘The Football Feeder’, has cooked for about 100 Premier League players, including Jordan Pickford.
He reveals that the team will likely be eating a lot of beetroot this week, and even taking beetroot shots before the game because of its powers in ‘supporting exercise performance naturally’.
Jonny also explains that the players’ pre-match eating plan starts days ahead of the game itself, with their increased carb intake starting on Thursday.
He said: “For a Saturday kick-off, nutrition actually starts a couple of days earlier on Thursday, when you begin gradually increasing carbohydrate intake. The day before the match, both lunch and dinner are more carb-focused, often with foods like pasta or rice to help top up energy stores.
“On matchday morning, players typically have a lighter meal with some protein and a small amount of veg, but fibre is kept low. The focus shifts back towards easily digestible carbohydrates so they are fuelled without feeling too heavy going into the game.”
Asked if there are any foods professional footballers avoid before a game, he said: “A few years ago things like ketchup and mayonnaise were pretty much cut out in a lot of setups, not just with England but across the Premier League too. It wasn’t really a single manager’s rule, more a general shift in how clubs approached nutrition. It was mainly down to them being high in sugar and fats, so players were encouraged to avoid them with meals.”
High temperatures have been a big talking point of the competition, with the controversial hydration breaks attracting loud crowd reactions at most games. But Jonny highlights the importance of staying hydrated while playing in the heat, saying that will also be factored into their nutrition plans.
He adds: “I expect hydrating ingredients like watercress and cucumber to feature in salads they are eating. Players will also be taking hydration sachets throughout the day, along with fresh juices made from melon, beetroot, oranges and lemons to help maintain fluid balance.”
During the interview with World Cup odds betting site Betway Jonny also explains how the team’s post-match meals are also vital to their performance.
He said: “Post-match it’s all about hydration and refueling. Players will usually eat fairly quickly after the game to top up on energy stores, especially in hot conditions. You might still see the occasional cheat meal like pizza or fried chicken in the dressing room, although during tournaments, most players tend to keep things a bit more controlled until the later stages.
“Alongside food, recovery drinks with ingredients like ginger and turmeric are also commonly used for their anti-inflammatory properties and to help support recovery.”
