The mystery of the world's most dangerous football stadium

"It's terrifying to play here," exclaimed Argentine football hero Lionel Messi. Even Brazilian striker Neymar expressed his discontent: "It's inhumane to play under such conditions." Which football stadium is considered the most dangerous in the world, and why does it make football players apprehensive?

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Bolivia's "Sporting Heart"

Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz, Bolivia, is renowned as the world's most dangerous football stadium. Players from various national teams have consistently complained about the hardships they endure during matches. Some speak of difficulty breathing, dizziness, and nausea. Surprisingly, Bolivian players feel comfortable, often leading to victories against higher-ranked opponents. In 2007, FIFA temporarily banned matches at Hernando Siles, but this decision faced significant opposition. Now, the stadium regularly hosts tournaments, including international competitions. What is the mystery behind this dangerous stadium, and why does it favor the Bolivian home team?

Hernando Siles in La Paz is Bolivia's largest football stadium, with a capacity of over 40,000 people. It was built to host large-scale sporting events and has been the national football team's home ground since its inauguration.

Hernando Siles Stadium

The most significant characteristic of Hernando Siles is its location in the Miraflores area, situated at an altitude of 3,601 meters above sea level. It is one of the highest stadiums in the world, hosting matches for professional teams. This elevation has earned the stadium a reputation in the media as the most fearful and dangerous venue globally.

Jubilant victories at Hernando Siles Stadium

In 1963, Bolivia hosted a major international tournament for the first time - the South American Championship (now known as the Copa America, recognized since 1975). Matches took place at both Hernando Siles and Felix Capriles (Bolivia's second important stadium). Bolivia won the championship group by defeating Peru (3-2), Paraguay (2-0), Argentina (3-2), and even Brazil (5-4). Most of these matches were held at Hernando Siles.

In 1997, Bolivia once again hosted the continent's main tournament. The championship format now included a group stage and a series of knockout matches. Bolivia became the best-performing team in Group B, surpassing Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile. It's worth noting that in the quarter-finals, at Hernando Siles, Bolivia defeated Colombia (2-1). In the semi-finals at the same venue, they also defeated Mexico (3-1). They only lost to Brazil in the final (1-3). How Brazil overcame the curse of this stadium remains a mystery.

Argentina lost to Bolivia with a score of 1-6 at Hernando Siles Stadium

During the period of remarkable achievements from 1963 to 1997, Bolivia had never achieved comparable success. Their success in home matches did not stop there. In 2001, the team avenged against Brazil (3-1, World Cup 2002 qualifiers), and in 2009, they scored six goals against Argentina (6-1, World Cup 2010 qualifiers). In the World Cup qualifiers of 2006, 2010, and 2014, Bolivia secured 10 home victories and 8 draws. In away matches, the results were significantly worse, with 2 draws and no victories. In the World Cup 2018 qualifiers, Bolivia lost all away matches but earned 4 victories at home, including against national teams Argentina and Chile. Bolivia drew with Brazil at Hernando Siles but suffered a heavy defeat away with a score of 0-5.

"Terrifying to Play Here"

Bolivia's opponents in matches at Hernando Siles Stadium have consistently complained about their poor health conditions. By the end of the match, their performance deteriorates, heart rates become irregular, headaches occur, and some feel nauseous. The thin and unsaturated air prompts some athletes to request respiratory masks.

For example, former Venezuelan national team player Alejandro Moreno stated, "The first thing you see in the dressing room in Bolivia is an oxygen cylinder. This creates a heavy feeling, not only physically but also mentally. You perform a few sprints, and it feels like your lungs are on fire." Argentina's national team captain, Lionel Messi, shared similar sentiments after a World Cup 2014 qualifying match. "It's terrifying to play here. Every time you accelerate, you have to recover on your own. Players experience headaches and dizziness," explained the forward. After that match, reports surfaced that Argentine players almost fainted on the field, but Messi himself denied this. In 2017, during the World Cup 2018 qualifiers, among those expressing dissatisfaction was Brazilian forward Neymar. "It's inhumane to play under such conditions. The pitch, the altitude, the match – everything is terrible," he wrote.

It's not surprising: doctors say that when the body is not acclimated to such altitudes, it loses about 30% of its capacity. Moreover, this can pose serious health risks if athletes have heart issues. It takes several weeks to adapt, a luxury players often don't have the opportunity to afford.

A match at Hernando Siles Stadium.

Bolivians are accustomed to living and training in such conditions, giving them an undeniable advantage. For their opponents, the challenge of subjecting their bodies to harsh conditions is a serious trial. Moreno's account of oxygen cylinders placed in the dressing room is not imaginary; it is the only way to save players' lungs.

Safety concerns when playing under similar conditions have been hotly debated since 2007. At the 57th FIFA Congress, it was decided to ban tournaments at stadiums located above 2,500m above sea level for the first time. However, this faced severe criticism from representatives of football not only in Bolivia but also in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Mexico.

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, then a friend of Bolivia's President Evo Morales, called the decision foolish. According to him, if teams had adaptation issues, they should fly to Bolivia earlier, or if the weather was a problem, they might as well not play in cold Russia. The political figure did not stand aside either. On one occasion, President Morales asked Diego Maradona what he thought about the rule. Maradona replied, "Whoever wins at this altitude deserves to win. Those afraid of altitude have no standing."

Unsurprisingly, the ban on Hernando Siles Stadium was quickly lifted - FIFA could not withstand the pressure and had to compromise. This was officially proven by the stadium hosting national championships. Subsequently, Bolivian football authorities have criticized the "unfair" treatment of stadiums at altitude in other countries.

Particularly noteworthy is the debate over the request to allow matches at Ecuador's Olimpico Atahualpa Stadium, located at an altitude of 2,780m above sea level. This venue has been the home ground for Ecuador's national team since 1951. As a result, the initial control threshold of 2,500m was raised to 3,000m. Most stadiums, including Olimpico, that were initially restricted started operating freely again.