Mirror Football's Ryan Taylor has arrived in Mexico City ahead of England's World Cup round-of-16 clash with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. After 24 hours on the ground, he now understands why altitude has been a major talking point.
Personal experience of altitude symptoms
Taylor reported feeling fatigued, brain fog, nausea, and headaches within a day of landing. He said: "My head felt heavy and I suffered from brain fog, which is really rare. Even simple, small tasks suddenly felt weirdly challenging." He noted that while these symptoms are common when adapting to high altitude, he could not imagine having the energy or clearness of mind to play football in a World Cup Round of 16 match.
Altitude and pollution concerns
The Estadio Azteca sits at 2,240 metres above sea level. Taylor observed that the air is noticeably thin and of poor quality, with a potent smell of diesel. He noted that Mexico City is heavily reliant on cars, with 75 per cent of all passenger kilometres traveled via vehicle, contributing to pollution.
Acclimatisation challenges for England
England's players will train in Mexico City on Saturday ahead of the match. Taylor wrote: "England's sports science specialists aren't stupid and nor are the FA. Yes the storyline has become incredibly tedious but it's worthy of such extensive coverage because everybody adapts to altitude differently." He added that some players have installed hyperbaric chambers at home to aid recovery.
Mental and physical demands
Taylor emphasised that the mental element—thinking and decision-making—could be as problematic as shortness of breath, especially in the intense atmosphere of the Azteca. He concluded that while he is not a professional footballer, the assignment would be daunting even under normal conditions.
