'You can't catch your breath' - how will Azteca altitude impact England?
England's football team faces significant physical challenges as they prepare to play Mexico at the high-altitude Estadio Azteca. The thin air at 7,220ft above sea level is expected to cause increased fatigue and breathing difficulties for the visiting players.
Why it matters
Environmental factors like altitude can significantly alter the outcome of international sporting events, highlighting the importance of physical conditioning and acclimatization.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Mexico have only lost twice in competitive matches at the Estadio Azteca - against Costa Rica in 2001 and Honduras in 2013 - since they began playing matches there in 1966
The article provides a factual, sports-science-focused analysis of the impact of altitude on athletic performance without political or ideological framing.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in