In Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, players and fans are already used to. But for many Brazilian clubs, playing a match at more than 2,500 meters above sea level is still a cause for great concern. After all, to what extent does altitude interfere with football? What are the real effects on the body of players? And what is the fine line between the physical challenge and the competitive disadvantage?
What is the altitude that gives a difference to players?
Generally, the first effects of altitude are felt from 1.500 metros. However, it is From 2,400 meters That the human body begins to demonstrate more evident signs of extra effort: early tiredness, breathing difficulty, headache, dizziness and nausea.
In high physical requirements such as football, where cardiovascular resistance is constantly tested, the effects are accentuated. In places like La Paz (3,640m), Quito (2.850m) or Cusco (3.400m)the thin air reduces the presence of oxygen by up to 30% compared to sea level, requiring athletes to consume more energy to perform habitual movements.
“From 2,500 meters, it is already possible to observe yield drop in athletes that are not acclimated”, explains Dr. José Kawazoe Lazzolisports cardiologist and former president of the Brazilian Society of Exercise Medicine.
Effects on the body: What really happens?
At altitude, the body needs to adapt to an environment with less oxygen. This generates what doctors call hypobaric hypoxia – A condition in which the body has difficulty absorbing sufficient oxygen. Therefore:
- The heart hits faster;
- Respiratory rate increases;
- The muscles enter fatigue faster;
- The recovery time after sprints and divided is greater;
- There is a risk of altitude acute malaisewith symptoms similar to that of a strong flu.
In the early days of exposure, the body begins to produce more red blood cells (red blood cells), trying to compensate for the lowest oxygen offer. But this process can take 7 to 10 days to take effect – unfeasible time for most sports delegations.
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FIELD DATA: PROVEN LOWER PERFORMANCE
FIFA and Conmebol Studies have already indicated a clear trend: teams that play above 2,500 meters of altitude have an average drop of 15% to 20% in the volume of playwhen compared to sea level performances.
In 2007, a survey of University of Lausanne, Switzerlandanalyzed European and South American club matches at altitudes above 2,800 meters. The study concluded that the number of sprints, long passes and finishes from outside the area It falls significantly, while the number of fouls and cards increases – the result of the difficulty of accompanying the rhythm of the game.
“The player cannot maintain the same level of intensity. It is as if the body did not follow the athlete’s reasoning,” he says Fernando SignoriniArgentine physical trainer who has worked with Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
Emblematic cases: when the altitude became a protagonist
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Bolivia 2 x Brazil – 1994 World Cup qualifiers (La Paz, Bolivia – 3,640m)
Data: 07/25/1993 – Brazil’s first defeat in the history of the qualifiers. The selection of Carlos Alberto Parreira suffered physically. Zinho got sick on the field and Cafu had a drop in performance. The defeat opened the effects of altitude. -
Real Potosí-Bol 2 x 2 Flamengo-Libertadores 2007 (Potosí, Bolivia-4,067m)
Data: 14/02/2007 – Flamengo strongly felt the effects of extreme altitude. The team could barely change passes and lost 2-0. Renato Abreu had to use oxygen cylinder by the lawn, symbol of wear. With great dedication, Fla still sought the draw. -
LDU-EQU 4 x 2 FLUMINENSE-Final of Libertadores 2008 (Quito, Ecuador-2,850m)
Data: 06/25/2008 – In the first match of the final, Fluminense was dominated. Washington lost his breath, Thiago Neves created little, and LDU built the advantage that would lead to the title on penalties, even losing 3-1, in Maracanã, on the return.
Adaptation or suffering? What clubs do to soften the effects
With little time to acclimate, most teams choose to Emergency Strategiesas:
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Arrive a few hours before the gametrying to avoid the time necessary for the body to “feel” altitude;
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Hyperbaric Chambers and Simulated Training at artificial altitude, in centers of excellence;
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Intense hydration, iron supplementation and vasodilators (like acetazolamide, in some cases);
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Strict control of food and sleep on the days before the match.
“Nothing replaces acclimatization. But as this is not possible in practice, the focus is to minimize damage,” explains the physiologist Ricardo Sasaki.
The controversy of altitude: natural disadvantage or sports injustice?
The debate has already ended up at FIFA. In 2007, the entity came to ban games over 2,500 meterswhich generated revolt in Andean countries. The decision was revoked months later, with the argument that altitude was part of the natural geography of countries – as well as the heat in the northeast of Brazil or the cold in southern Argentina.
“If we will complain about altitude, we should also ban games at noon in Cuiabá or synthetic lawns,” the then president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, mocked at the time.
Conclusion: Football at altitude is still a concrete challenge
Science is clear: altitude yes affects the performance of the players. But the way clubs and federations deal with it varies. For teams living above 2,500 meters, it is a natural and legitimate advantage. For visitors, it takes planning and tactical intelligence.
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