While the United States Men’s National Team couldn’t neutralize every aspect of Mexico’s home field advantage on Sunday night, the team’s strategy to adjust to altitude played a key role in building fitness before the match. The more obvious parts of the strategy included holding camp in Denver (5,280 feet above sea level) over two weeks to get the players used to playing at altitude. Playing a friendly against Venezuela last week in Salt Lake City (4,226 feet) and scheduling the Trinidad & Tobago match in Denver also was part of the plan.
High altitude is difficult to prepare for and every person reacts differently to physical exertion when there is less barometric pressure so the body is less able to perform oxygen exchange between the lungs and the blood.