India vs Afghanistan World Cup Qualifier: High Altitude Challenge Awaits Blue Tigers In Abha

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In body contact games such as football, endurance has a determining role indeed. Besides, the geographical location also has a high potential as well. The altitudinal factor would play a major role in the upcoming India vs Afghanistan FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 joint qualifier round in Abha on March 21.

The Saudi Arabian city is located 2,270 meters above sea level. In comparison, Guwahati, which will host the return leg on March 26, is at 49.5 to 55.5 meters from the sea level. Owing to the gigantic altitudinal differences, the head coach of India's football team Igor Stimac has to face multiple issues with his team.

According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, "Altitude will impact football performance through two separate and parallel pathways related to the Hypobaric (physical), and Hypoxic (physiological) components.?"

Due to the upper altitude, the football team of India has to undergo endurance struggle, especially during running. Sitmac's initial challenge would be hypoxia owing to its high altitude. Research says that, 1,000 feet above sea level, the athletes' VO2 level (measures how much oxygen your body uses while exercising) dropped by 1.9 per cent. Besides, the time it took for them to reach the point of exhaustion while running also decreased by 4.4 per cent per 1,000 feet of altitude.

On the contrary, the football team Afghanistan players such as Farshad Noor, Hossein Zamani have backgrounds in The Netherlands and Iran, and the team has played across Europe and the Middle East, which has made the combating experiences of immunity against the hypoxia and playing at all the high altitudes.

The Indian football team has not had enough past experiences of playing at such high altitudes or combating hypoxia, which is oxygen deficit. Besides, hypoxia can cause dehydration during rigorous training.

On the other hand, the Afghanistan football team has already set to face the venue battle with ample experience and practice. Despite Stimac's optimism, March 21 might be difficult to uphill the battle.