Stop Fighting Football! Use the World Cup to Teach Biology Instead | S2 E40
Every four years the World Cup arrives and suddenly your students seem far more interested in football than biology. My argument? Stop fighting it.
In this episode of Miss Estruch Teach & Tell, I explore how the World Cup can become one of the most powerful teaching tools in your biology classroom. From osmoregulation and respiration to infectious disease and plant biology, the specification is playing out on the pitch in real time.
We discuss:
⚽ Hydration, sweating and osmoregulation
⚽ ADH, kidneys and negative feedback
⚽ Glycogen, respiration and energy systems
⚽ Muscle contraction and sports performance
⚽ Infectious disease transmission and R numbers
⚽ Epidemiology and mass gathering events
⚽ Plant biology, active transport and nutrient uptake
⚽ How to use major sporting events to increase student engagement
⚽ Why real-world examples matter for motivation and retention
I also share a free classroom resource from the Miss Estruch Biology channel: The Biology of the World Cup:
The Science of the World Cup | World Cup World Cup 2026 Biology Explained
This is a student-focused video exploring the biology behind the world's biggest sporting event, featuring insights from experts in sports nutrition, physiology and sports turf science. Perfect for:
- GCSE Biology teachers
- A Level Biology teachers
- Secondary science teachers
- Biology departments looking for real-world examples
- Teachers wanting to increase engagement without sacrificing rigour
Remember: The World Cup is not a distraction from biology. It is biology!
