Why England could legally use Viagra against Mexico
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- England can legally use Viagra because it is not banned by WADA.
- The main issue is Mexico City's altitude, which could affect stamina and recovery.
- There is no evidence England plan to use Viagra against Mexico.
As Thomas Tuchel prepares his squad for a return to the iconic Azteca Stadium, the England manager has already acknowledged that the conditions in Mexico City could prove one of the biggest obstacles his side has faced at the tournament.
England booked their place in the knockout stages with a 2-1 victory over DR Congo, although the performance left room for improvement. Brian Cipenga stunned the Three Lions with an early opener after just seven minutes before Harry Kane responded with two goals to seal progression.
With only a short turnaround before facing the World Cup co-hosts, England have little opportunity to acclimatise to the significantly higher altitude.
Azteca's altitude presents a unique challenge
The Azteca Stadium sits around 2,240 metres (7,220 feet) above sea level, where the thinner air contains less oxygen than players are accustomed to.Tuchel has admitted it will be virtually impossible for England to fully adapt after travelling from their tournament base in Kansas City.
Reduced oxygen levels make it more difficult for the body to deliver oxygen efficiently to working muscles, often leading to earlier fatigue, breathlessness and reduced endurance.
Why Viagra has entered the conversation
Although Viagra is widely recognised as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, it was originally developed to treat high blood pressure.Its active ingredient, sildenafil, relaxes blood vessels by blocking an enzyme that causes them to narrow. In the lungs, this effect can reduce pulmonary blood pressure, potentially improving oxygen transport in environments where oxygen is scarce.
Because of these physiological effects, sildenafil has occasionally been discussed as a possible aid for athletes competing at high altitude.
Is Viagra banned in football?
No.Viagra does not appear on the 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list.
WADA has extensively studied sildenafil and concluded that it does not provide a meaningful performance advantage for athletes competing at or near sea level.
Research has suggested that some athletes experienced significant improvements in exercise capacity at altitudes above 3,800 metres, with one study reporting gains exceeding 35% for a small group of participants.
However, the same research concluded that sildenafil is unlikely to improve oxygen delivery or endurance performance below 4,000 metres for the vast majority of trained athletes.
Given that Mexico City's altitude is approximately 2,240 metres, any potential benefit would likely be limited.
Previous use in football
The idea is not entirely new.In 2019, Argentine club Unión de Santa Fe reportedly used Viagra before playing at Quito's Estadio OlÃmpico Atahualpa, which sits around 2,850 metres above sea level.
The objective was not performance enhancement in the traditional sense but to help players better tolerate the effects of altitude.
No evidence England plan to use it
Despite renewed discussion ahead of England's meeting with Mexico, there is no indication that Tuchel's medical staff intend to prescribe Viagra.The subject also surfaced before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when reports claimed England were considering the medication to combat South Africa's altitude.
The Football Association quickly dismissed those claims, stating that whilst its medical team had researched various methods of preparing for altitude, Viagra had never formed part of the team's plans.
Whether England pursue any pharmaceutical assistance or rely solely on traditional sports science, adapting quickly to one of world football's most demanding venues could prove just as important as their tactical preparation.
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