Chef Tracks Vegemite to Know Socceroos Love His Food

When you're cooking for elite athletes at the World Cup, you need a way to know if they actually like your food, and Chef Vini Capovilla found the perfect measurement tool: Vegemite consumption.

The less of the iconic Australian spread his Socceroos players reach for, the more they're enjoying his meals. It's a delightfully simple indicator that's helped him perfect his craft across four World Cup tournaments.

"The focus is on performance and also the safety of the players," Capovilla explained. "But there is a third factor that I think is key, and that is their wellbeing, their wellness."

For the 2026 World Cup, Australia secured the luxury Claremont Country Club in Berkeley as their home base, complete with a team barista who's sparked a latte art competition among players. Midfielder Cammy Devlin is currently winning.

The setup reflects a growing understanding that athlete wellness extends beyond just nutrition and training. Players have access to a recreation room with ping pong, darts, and PlayStation, with one important rule: no laptops or work allowed inside.

Each player gets their own room given the tournament's duration, a departure from the usual shared accommodations during shorter team windows. FIFA largely covers the costs of the resort, which reportedly charges normal members a $60,000 joining fee.

Why This Inspires

What makes Capovilla's approach special is his collaboration with dietician Julie Meek to customize meals for each player individually. They don't just create a generic meal plan; they study preferences and strategically design the dining experience to ensure players get exactly what their bodies need.

"We know each player and what they like, where they are going to go," Capovilla said. "So we play a little bit with their minds to get them to eat precisely what they need to eat."

The dining room itself tells the story of Australian soccer history, with walls decorated by photos of every Socceroos team from 2006 to 2022. Original jerseys from every World Cup since 1974 hang in the hallways, donated specifically for this purpose.

It's a constant reminder that qualifying for the World Cup is never guaranteed. Head of teams Gary Moretti emphasized how the current coaching staff, all former Socceroos themselves, value this connection to their legacy.

As players leave each meal, they pass a quote from Australian soccer legend Johnny Warren: "A champion team will always beat a team of champions." Between the thoughtful nutrition, the space to recharge, and the reminders of what's been achieved before, Australia is building exactly that kind of champion team.