England Prepares for Altitude Challenge in Mexico City
England will throw everything at the altitude in Mexico City on Sunday. Well, almost everything.
On the eve of their World Cup round of 16 clash with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, Thomas Tuchel found himself fielding one of the more surreal questions of his England tenure: were his players really considering using Viagra to cope with the thin air?
“The information to support it didn't reach me, so that's not true,” Tuchel replied, laughing off the suggestion in his pre-match press conference.
The Azteca sits roughly 7,220 feet above sea level, a towering, oxygen-thin stage that has shaped World Cup history and shredded lungs for generations. As the build-up intensified this week, several outlets floated the idea that England might exploit a quirky loophole: Viagra is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances.
That opened the door for a familiar story. A 2006 study reported that Viagra “significantly improved the cardiovascular and exercise performance measures of trained cyclists at high altitude” thanks to its impact on blood flow. The drug, famous for one thing, apparently has a second life in sports science.
This is not new ground for England. Remarkably, the national team has had to knock down this exact rumour before.
Back in 2009, ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, a report suggested the FA was exploring Viagra as a tool to manage the conditions players would face at altitude. The response was swift and unequivocal. The English FA issued a statement insisting that, while its medical staff were doing “detailed research with a variety of experts” before the tournament, “there has been no discussion with regard to Viagra and certainly no plans for the players to take it in South Africa at the tournament.”
Different continent, different World Cup, same denial.
This time, the rebuttal came with a smile from Tuchel, but the underlying theme is serious enough. England know the Azteca is unforgiving. The air is thin, the lungs burn, and matches here can tilt on which side manages their energy and recovery with the greatest precision. They are leaning on data, conditioning and medical detail, not quick fixes or tabloid science.
Once the laughter in the press room faded, Tuchel moved on to the news that actually matters for England’s chances.
Jarell Quansah, who missed the last-32 win over DR Congo with an ankle problem, is back.
“You saw that Jarell trained, Jarell trained fully, is fully available,” Tuchel confirmed. A timely boost, given the physical demands awaiting his back line against a Mexico side that thrives on tempo and movement, especially in this stadium.
Reece James remains the big question mark. The right-back, sidelined with a hamstring issue, will be assessed right up to kick-off.
“Reece can maybe make it onto the bench, he needs a last assessment from the doctors and medical opinion if this makes sense,” Tuchel said.
So England go into one of world football’s most iconic arenas with their squad almost intact, their lungs braced, their preparations rooted in sports science rather than pharmacy myths.
The altitude will test them. Mexico will test them more. The only thing rising unnaturally on Sunday should be the stakes.
