Even if they carefully plan their nutrition and prepare mentally and physically for their games, the United States will still face the harshest temperatures and the longest travel distance after drawing into “the group of death” for the World Cup.
In total, the US team will travel 8,880 miles over the course of their 10 day stay in Brazil. Leapfrogging from their base camp in Sao Paulo to Manaus, Natal and Recipe, the team will spend over 17 hours in the air and 18 on the ground. That is, if the roads and their decrepit infrastructure have miraculously been fixed. Though time in the air may seem like much needed relaxation during a grueling athletic schedule, it can take a toll on the body that can severely effect a player’s abilities. Pressurized cabins drain the body of oxygen and it can take days to recover.
Even if a full recovery between games were possible, the U.S. team will have to contend with the withering heat of playing in the most grueling climates of the tournament. A comparison of the venues reveals that the USMNT will be playing in the three of the hottest and most humid stadiums – all at peak hours of the day. In Manaus, straddling the Amazon rainforest, the team will face off with Portugal at 3 PM. With humidity and temperatures combining to feel over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, this was the last pick any team wanted to draw. Natal, surrounded by burning-hot sand dunes, may stand in stark opposition to Manaus in terms of scenery, but will provide no reprieve from the heat and humidity. And the U.S. team’s stop in Recife looks to be no better. In June 2013, Spain's Sergio Busquets noted that, "Playing [in Recife] at 4 p.m. was inhuman." The USMNT will battle Germany there at 1 PM on June 26.
The U.S. team will travel 8,880 miles over the course of their 10 day stay in Brazil. (Photo: Shutterstock.com)
The World Cup lineup is truly the luck of the draw, and other teams fared better than the U.S. Belgium will be the luckiest, traveling a total of 1,060 miles and playing in the most temperate venues. For teams playing close to their base camps and spending minimal time in the air, their extra training time could ultimately win them the title. But with proper preparation, frequent time outs and a modified style of play, it’s potentially all up for grabs.
