England's World Cup last-16 match against co-hosts Mexico was thrown into disarray on Friday due to a prolonged period of confusion regarding its kick-off time. The situation, which lasted for several hours, involved significant frustration and ultimately a change of decision from FIFA.
The scheduling turmoil prompted discussions about the potential impact of factors such as altitude and temperature on athletic performance. Dr. Barney Wainwright, a senior research fellow at Leeds Beckett University, previously explained to BBC Sport that altitude can significantly affect athletes. "Maximum aerobic capacity at this kind of altitude usually drops around 10%," Wainwright stated, noting that this reduction impacts performance.
He further elaborated on the combined effects of heat and altitude. "When there's less oxygen in the air, that means there's less in the blood. That affects your ability to produce energy for the muscles and your exercise capacity," Wainwright said. "It also takes away from the brain. And the brain is important for us because we need oxygen in the brain for decision making, visual processing, those kind of things, which is important in football."
While the ambient temperature might be around 21C, Wainwright noted that temperatures at pitch level, influenced by crowds, could be a few degrees higher. However, he suggested that this increase would not substantially alter the performance challenges posed by the altitude. "That would make it a bit more difficult," he commented. "But overall, from an altitude perspective, it won't make any real difference to them."
Beyond the immediate physical effects, the early kick-off time could also have disrupted players' rest patterns. Altitude is known to affect sleep, and an earlier start would have eliminated opportunities for players to recover. Paradoxically, Wainwright also pointed out that potential evening thunderstorms could have been an advantage, offering players a break from the effects of altitude during scheduled stoppages.