Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti had to undergo an exercise test, also known as a effort test, and blood test before the confrontation against Bolivia on Tuesday (9), by the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The match will be played at El Alto, a city located 4,150 meters above sea level. To reduce the risks of altitude, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) submitted all members of the delegation to exams, except for those who had already performed the tests less than a year ago.
Ergometric is used to diagnose cardiovascular disease, evaluate physical capacity for sports activities and monitor the response to treatments and surgeries.
Experts point to two strategies for dealing with thin air: stay for a period of acclimatization or arrive shortly before departure, before the effects are felt. The CBF opted for the second alternative, recommended by the entity’s medical council.
The delegation landed on Monday night (8) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, city at sea, and followed on Tuesday afternoon to El Alto, with a scheduled arrival about three hours before the game. The team should go straight to the municipal stadium, where the ball rolls at 8:30 pm (Brasília), and return shortly after the final whistle.
It will be the first time Ancelotti will lead a staff at stadiums above 2,500 meters of altitude, which studies already indicate significant fall of sports performance. The Italian said he sought references with his son, Davide Ancelotti, Botafogo’s coach, on how to deal with the situation.
“I consider this a very beautiful experience. I’ve never been in Bolivia, I’ve never been to La Paz. It’s an important experience. I want to make a good game tomorrow. As always, the goal is to win. Enchanted and wanting to get to Bolivia,” he said at a news conference at Granja Comary.
Davide led Botafogo in Quito, Ecuador, at 2,850 meters altitude. At the time, the Rio team was defeated by LDU 2-0 and was eliminated from Libertadores.
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