In rugby that’s quite a common thing in South Africa. Pole jumps in Brazil are slightly higher due to lower gravity. What’s the problem here? If you are a pro footballer in 2026, and you care about your sport, you know it and condition yourself accordingly.
Without preparation performing at high altitude is torturous. I’ve seen enough rugby drama around Ellis Park at 1700 standard/5000 freedom meters.
But again, pro sport is far beyond slapstick amateur teams crashing pubs night before the game.
I happen to personally know some professional athletes (track and field not team sports tho)
They do altitude training because performing in high altitude is so rough it gives an advantage when you’re back on normal altitudes. Different theories on why it works but it does seem to.
I grew up in Boulder CO lol a lot of athletes head up there to train for any kind of running/cycling event. Like, people will train there for the Boston Marathon just cause if you can do it well up there, it’ll be better wherever. It definitely makes a difference. But I don’t know enough about soccer. Like do they trade people in and out like hockey or football? That’d make a big difference in how much it matters.
At the pro level you get very few substitutions, like 3 for the entire match but maybe it’s been updated since
Edit: 5, with extra in overtime and extra for a concussion
Ahh, yeah I imagine soccer to be one of the most physically demanding sports. Running pretty much constantly for that long. I respect the hell out of the players, I just find it far too boring to watch.
In rugby that’s quite a common thing in South Africa. Pole jumps in Brazil are slightly higher due to lower gravity. What’s the problem here? If you are a pro footballer in 2026, and you care about your sport, you know it and condition yourself accordingly.
Not to mention these guys are all in peak physical condition. It still matters, just not as much as one of us schlubs went.
Without preparation performing at high altitude is torturous. I’ve seen enough rugby drama around Ellis Park at 1700 standard/5000 freedom meters. But again, pro sport is far beyond slapstick amateur teams crashing pubs night before the game.
I happen to personally know some professional athletes (track and field not team sports tho)
They do altitude training because performing in high altitude is so rough it gives an advantage when you’re back on normal altitudes. Different theories on why it works but it does seem to.
I grew up in Boulder CO lol a lot of athletes head up there to train for any kind of running/cycling event. Like, people will train there for the Boston Marathon just cause if you can do it well up there, it’ll be better wherever. It definitely makes a difference. But I don’t know enough about soccer. Like do they trade people in and out like hockey or football? That’d make a big difference in how much it matters.
At the pro level you get very few substitutions, like 3 for the entire match but maybe it’s been updated since Edit: 5, with extra in overtime and extra for a concussion
Ahh, yeah I imagine soccer to be one of the most physically demanding sports. Running pretty much constantly for that long. I respect the hell out of the players, I just find it far too boring to watch.