The Science Behind Why Soccer Players at the 2026 World Cup Are Cutting Their Socks

2026年世界杯足球运动员为何剪破球袜？背后的科学原理

During this year’s World Cup, one scene repeats itself game after game: Several players take the field with holes in the calves of their socks. Social media is rife with theories about the supposed competitive advantage this might give them. But the practice isn’t new. It has been seen at the European Championships, the Olympic Games, and other international competitions over the past decade. Still, science has yet to find evidence that it improves performance.

在今年的世界杯期间，一场又一场比赛中反复出现着这样一幕：几名球员穿着小腿处破了洞的球袜上场。社交媒体上充斥着各种理论，猜测这或许能带来某种竞技优势。但这种做法并非新鲜事。在过去十年里，欧洲杯、奥运会以及其他国际赛事中都曾出现过。然而，科学界尚未发现任何证据表明这样做能提升运动表现。

Professional soccer socks are, by design, form-fitting. In addition to holding shin guards in place, they provide support to the ankle, the arch of the foot, and the calf; they help manage moisture and reduce foot movement inside the cleat to improve stability. This design principle has been used in professional soccer for decades. Although materials have evolved to become lighter and more durable, they are still primarily based on synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and spandex.

专业足球袜的设计初衷是贴合腿部。除了固定护腿板外，它们还能为脚踝、足弓和小腿提供支撑；它们有助于排汗，并减少脚在球鞋内的滑动，从而提高稳定性。这一设计原则在职业足球领域已沿用了数十年。尽管材料已进化得更轻、更耐用，但它们仍主要由聚酯纤维、尼龙和氨纶等合成纤维制成。

But quite a few players have complained that the socks are too tight and cause a tingling and numb sensation in the calf area. The discomfort is so great that, halfway through a game, they cut several holes in the calf area to “release tension” and run better.

但不少球员抱怨说，球袜太紧，会导致小腿部位出现刺痛和麻木感。这种不适感非常强烈，以至于他们在比赛中途会在小腿处剪几个洞，以“释放压力”，从而跑得更顺畅。

There is a biomechanical component to this sensation. During a sprint or a change of direction, the largest muscle in the calf contracts and increases in thickness to generate the force that propels the athlete forward. This change in shape occurs thousands of times during a game. For some, the repeated expansion of the muscle is enough to create a sensation of pressure when the sock exerts constant compression on the calf.

这种感觉背后有着生物力学因素。在冲刺或变向时，小腿最大的肌肉会收缩并变厚，从而产生推动运动员前进的力量。这种形状的变化在比赛中会发生数千次。对一些人来说，当球袜对小腿施加持续压力时，肌肉的反复扩张足以产生压迫感。

Over time, the practice of cutting holes in socks has taken on an almost intuitive explanation among the players themselves: splitting open the fabric allows the muscle to “breathe,” relieving pressure and reducing the likelihood of pain or cramps. However, specialists in sports medicine and recovery point out that there are no studies demonstrating that cutting holes in socks provides any benefit. In fact, much of the research on compression garments concludes that, when properly designed and fitted, they can help limit muscle inflammation after intense exertion.

久而久之，剪破球袜的做法在球员中形成了一种近乎直觉的解释：剪开织物能让肌肉“呼吸”，从而缓解压力，减少疼痛或抽筋的可能性。然而，运动医学和康复专家指出，目前没有任何研究证明剪破球袜有任何益处。事实上，关于压缩装备的大量研究结论显示，如果设计和尺码得当，它们反而有助于减轻剧烈运动后的肌肉炎症。

Despite the lack of evidence regarding physiological benefits, the practice continues to spread among professional soccer players. Today, it is considered primarily an anecdotal phenomenon, based on each player’s personal experience rather than scientific evidence. Furthermore, the rules of the game do not prohibit modifying socks, as long as the equipment remains safe and the shin guards remain properly covered. (A soccer player, however, cannot play with a torn jersey.)

尽管缺乏生理益处的证据，但这种做法仍在职业球员中蔓延。如今，这主要被视为一种轶事现象，基于球员个人的主观体验，而非科学证据。此外，比赛规则并不禁止改装球袜，只要装备保持安全且护腿板得到妥善覆盖即可。（不过，球员不能穿着破损的球衣上场。）

Given the lack of scientific evidence, several specialists believe that part of the phenomenon could be explained by the player’s own perception of comfort. In high-performance sports, the feeling of comfort can influence the confidence with which an athlete competes. If a soccer player believes a piece of clothing is restrictive, eliminating that perceived discomfort can make them feel freer to run, accelerate, or change direction—even if their performance remains objectively unchanged.

鉴于缺乏科学证据，一些专家认为，这种现象的部分原因可以用球员对舒适度的感知来解释。在竞技体育中，舒适感会影响运动员的比赛信心。如果一名球员认为某件装备有束缚感，消除这种感知上的不适可能会让他们在奔跑、加速或变向时感到更自由——即使他们的客观表现并没有发生变化。

Though there is no evidence that cutting the socks provides a competitive advantage or reduces the risk of injury, that does not mean the sensation of discomfort is imaginary. The perception of pressure, restriction, or comfort depends on multiple factors, ranging from anatomy and individual sensitivity to the athlete’s past experiences. In other words, two players may react differently while wearing exactly the same equipment.

虽然没有证据表明剪破球袜能提供竞技优势或降低受伤风险，但这并不意味着不适感是虚构的。对压力、束缚或舒适的感知取决于多种因素，从解剖结构和个人敏感度到运动员的过往经历。换句话说，两名球员在穿着完全相同的装备时，可能会有不同的反应。

For now, it seems the cutting of socks will continue. The available evidence points to a mechanism similar to that of other sports rituals: Its effect is primarily psychological, not necessarily physiological.

目前看来，剪球袜的做法还会持续下去。现有的证据表明，其机制与其他运动仪式类似：其效果主要是心理上的，而不一定是生理上的。