England soccer players could be offered an unusual aid for Sunday’s match against Mexico in Mexico City: Viagra, if they feel they need it. The drug is not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and it has been discussed as a legal way to help players cope with the thin air at a stadium sitting more than 7,217 feet above sea level.
The timing matters because England has already arrived in Mexico for the game, and the issue is no longer theoretical. Mexico City Stadium, also known as Azteca Stadium, is far higher than Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, which stands at 5,280 feet, and altitude can quickly turn a running match into a test of lungs and legs.
Some studies have found that Viagra can reduce fatigue and dizziness brought on by altitude by lowering blood pressure in the lungs, which is why it has been linked to this trip rather than its usual use. The idea is simple enough: if the air is thinner, the body may struggle to move oxygen efficiently, and a drug that eases that strain could help England players feel more comfortable in the match.
But the plan is far from foolproof. The evidence is not a guarantee, and nothing in the setup suggests every player would respond the same way, or even that any player would choose to take it. That uncertainty is part of what makes the story unusual: the drug is legal, the science is limited, and the decision would still come down to how each player feels in the hours before kickoff.
There is also a reason the team has been careful in Mexico. When Mexico played Ecuador in the previous round, Mexican fans sat outside England’s hotel and tried to keep the team from getting a good night’s sleep, so the location of the hotel was kept secret when England arrived. That makes Sunday’s match feel less like a routine group-stage trip and more like a controlled attempt to manage every edge, from rest to altitude to whatever help players think they need.
What happens next is straightforward: England faces Mexico on Sunday, and the only real open question is whether any England players will decide that Viagra is part of their answer to the air in Mexico City.
