Impact of climatic conditions projected at the World Cup in Qatar 2022 on repeated maximal efforts in soccer players

Introduction

Nowadays, soccer is more intensified than in the last decade (Barnes et al., 2014). Professional soccer players need to cover longer distances at high and maximum intensity and be more technically advanced (Konefał et al., 2019b). In modern day soccer, it is important to understand sport-specific physical activity demands for performance development and injury prevention of the game. Nowadays, soccer players run ∼11 km per game with 30–40 short sprints every 90 s, which depends on the position (Andrzejewski et al., 2016). During a soccer game, short-lasting movements are performed at both maximum (sprinting, jumping, sliding) and high intensity (counter attacking) (Racinais, Cocking & Périard, 2017). Such movements are characterized by an anaerobic energy metabolic process (Barnes et al., 2014; Andrzejewski, Chmura & Pluta, 2015). This clearly indicates the need to introduce training units in the training process taking into account the formation of the ability for short repeated maximal efforts (RSA).

Besides, RSA generating high power over a short distance and high running speed are among the fundamental abilities of a soccer player (Amonette et al., 2014; Bangsbo, Iaia & Krustrup, 2007; McIntyre, 2005). Chmura et al., (2017a) observed that soccer players at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, depending on the round of the tournament, reached an average of 27.66 ± 2.32 km/h in the first match of the group stage, up to 28.50 ± 1.82 km/h in the final and third place match. Furthermore, straight sprinting enables a player to escape from his opponent and/or to reach a free zone to shoot for the goal or to give a decisive pass. Goals were mostly scored by forwards after a straight sprint without the ball (Faude, Koch & Meyer, 2012). Additionally, analyses from recent years indicate that the covered sprint distance and number of sprints performed are of major significance in modern soccer (Andrzejewski et al., 2017; Konefał et al., 2019a). During these short duration maximum power efforts, anaerobic energy reactions are the main source of ATP resynthesis (Górski, 2006). Therefore, it is important to monitor the mechanical and biochemical parameters associated with high and maximal intensity exercises to optimally adjust the training program (Andrade et al., 2016).

Amid the effects of global warming, heat-related health risks are increasing especially in sporting events. Global warming is believed to be an ongoing phenomenon, and thermal environment management, particularly heat stress, is growing in importance. Caution is therefore needed to help guard against these health risks during World Cup in Qatar 2022 (Kakamu et al., 2017). High ambient temperatures can be unfavourable for players during major tournaments. This could be seen at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Brazil’s climate was a concern for many soccer teams of different nationalities, especially European ones. At that time, the introduction of additional cooling and hydration breaks was considered (Kakamu et al., 2017; Lucena et al., 2017). Also the last IO in Tokyo in 2021 showed that extra breaks are a good solution for athletes to maintain a good sport level. Hence, the investigation of maximal efforts at high temperatures is justified.

The global climate is systematically warming and soccer players are increasingly forced to play in high temperatures (Nassis et al., 2015). According to many authors, the ability to perform high-intensity exercise at high temperatures is significantly reduced and can have a negative impact on sports performance and overall player performance (Grantham et al., 2010; Mohr et al., 2010; Mohr et al., 2012; Ozgünen et al., 2010). A study by Nassis et al. (2015) found that athletes playing in temperatures above 28 °C experienced “heatstress” and reduced high intensity activity and sprinting numbers. At the same time, they maintained their maximum running speed. Similar results were observed by Chmura et al. (2017b) found that during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the conditions most unfavourable to physical activity on the part of the players occurred at temperatures above 28 °C and relative humidity above 60%. Removal of excess heat from the body at high ambient temperatures occurs due to dilation of skin blood vessels and increased dermal blood flow, in effect this accelerates heat transfer from the body’s interior to its surface. The evaporation of sweat from the skin surface involves the loss of large amounts of heat. Evaporating 1 l of sweat removes 580 kcal of heat from the body. It is also important to remember that with sweat, apart from water, electrolytes are lost and this in turn affects muscle contractility (Górski, 2006).

Considering the rate of reaching maximal power, it may be higher in a higher temperature environment because a warmed muscle in the optimal temperature range has better contractile capacity (Mohr et al., 2010; Racinais et al., 2005). Girard, Bishop & Racinais (2013) reported a decrease in maximal power (Pmax) from 1 to 10 repetitions, in 6 - second repeated sprints, in both thermoneutral (TNC) and high temperature (HOT) conditions, while the mean Pmax, was higher in HOT conditions, with a similar rate of power decrease in both conditions. In contrast, Drust et al. (2005) reported greater power decreases during repeated maximal efforts in HOT (40 °C) compared to TNC (20 °C). Regarding match exercise, data from the study by Mohr et al. (2012) and Mohr, Krustrup & Bangsbo (2003) showed that well-trained soccer players have a moderate decrease in the total distance covered (7%) and a marked decrease (26%) in the amount of high-intensity running when the game is played in HOT compared to TNC. In contrast, the peak sprint speed was higher in HOT. Furthermore, in monitoring the training process, one of the most popular indicators to control physical load is the Rating Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale, which is strongly correlated with heart rate and blood lactate levels (Laursen & Buchheit, 2019; Billaut & Smith, 2010). Périard et al. (2020) studied 6 s repeated maximal efforts under TNC (20 °C) and HOT (40 °C) conditions and reported no significant differences in RPE. Analysing mechanical parameters is an important element in soccer so that coaches and training staffs have a better knowledge of how players generate high power, which translates into acceleration and deceleration (Dolci et al., 2020).

High-intensity exercise also causes large changes in metabolite and ion concentrations within skeletal muscle (Robergs, Ghiasv & Parker, 2004). During maximal exercise, there is a sharp increase in muscle lactate concentration, indicating energy production from anaerobic glycolysis. Consequently, this results in a decrease in pH levels and disturbances in acid–base balance. Mohr et al. (2012) comparing TNC (21 °C) and HOT (43 °C) matching conditions, reported no significant differences in blood lactate concentration. Similar observations were reported by Yamaguchi et al. (2020); they recorded no significant differences between repeated maximal efforts at TNC (20 °C) and HOT (35 °C) in blood biochemical parameters such as lactate concentration, pH, HCO₃, pO₂, despite changing values over time. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are very few new publications, e.g., pO₂ and pCO2, in terms of the topic undertaken. Coaches and training staff are constantly looking for reserves in the modern training process and in particular in RSA. From a practical point of view, knowledge of the influence of different climatic conditions on changes in blood biochemical parameters can be significant in the training process, preparing for competition in a specific climate.

In this investigation, we attempted to investigate the relationship between RSA and simulated climatic conditions with different ambient temperatures. This is the first study to determine the mechanical and biochemical parameters that will be achieved under the climatic conditions anticipated at the 2022 World Championships in Qatar. A better understanding of the relationship of the effect of high ambient temperature on the ability to perform repeated maximal efforts will contribute to a more optimal and beneficial preparation of athletes for competitions held in habitually high temperature locations. High ambient temperatures can be unfavorable for players during major tournaments. Also, the recent Tokyo 2021 IO has shown that high ambient temperatures are very troublesome for athletes, and for this reason extra cooling breaks were introduced to maintain a high level of athletic performance. Therefore, it is reasonable to conduct an experiment of repeated maximal efforts at high temperatures. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the climatic conditions predicted for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the repetitive maximum effort (RSA) capacity, of soccer players. It was hypothesised that under conditions with higher temperatures, soccer players would achieve higher maximum power and a faster decline in maximum power would be observed. Furthermore, higher ratings of perceived exertion would be recorded, with biochemical parameters indicating greater fatigue changes.

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion

The aim of the current experiment was to investigate the relationship between the climatic conditions predicted for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the capacity for repeated maximum effort (RSA), of soccer players. The current study provides a better understanding of the effects of different climatic conditions on RSA, which will be particularly relevant in preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Our main findings of this study were higher maximal power values and shorter maximal power onset times occurred under QSC climatic conditions, with a higher rate of power loss than under TNC conditions. Increased whole-body temperature enhances explosive skeletal muscle performance (e.g., sprint and jump) by improving metabolic and contractile function, nerve conduction, and conformational changes associated with muscle contraction. This was observed in our study in achieving maximal power. In contrast, it is associated with increased fatigue development during prolonged maximal voluntary isometric contractions and impairs aerobic capacity (Racinais, Wilson & Périard, 2017). Heating up carries health risks. Indeed, the development of hyperthermia increases the risk of exercise-induced heat illness. The development of whole-body hyperthermia impairs neuromuscular function with alterations occurring at both the central and peripheral level. From a central perspective, elevated heat stress can lead to a reduction in voluntary muscle activation and the loss of force production capacity. We could observe this phenomenon in the fatigue index (Linnane et al., 2004). Considering mechanical parameters, similar results were recorded by Girard, Bishop & Racinais (2013), the average Pmax was 3.1% higher in HOT than in TNC. Moreover, Yamaguchi et al. (2020), reported 3% higher Pmax in HOT than in TNC. Linnane et al. (Racinais & Oksa, 2010) investigating longer 30 s maximal efforts also reported higher Pmax in HOT than in TNC. All these observations are consistent with ours. The tested soccer players performing the research protocol in QSC achieved higher values in these parameters in each repetition. The afore mentioned authors did not record tmax, and our study shows that it is definitely shorter in QSC than in TNC. Interestingly, in our study the highest Pmax in TNC was reached in the last 10th repetition and in QSC in the 2nd repetition. This may be indicative of the different temperatures of the working muscles. This is contrary to the results of Girard, Bishop & Racinais (2013) and Yamaguchi et al. (2020), as they recorded the highest Pmax values in both conditions, at the first repetition. On the other hand, our observations of Pmax and tmax are in line with previous studies describing a thermo-local increase in muscle temperature as a factor that improves muscle contractility, leading to higher energy production, thus better performance during RSA (Racinais et al., 2005; Racinais, Hue & Blonc, 2004; Krustrup et al., 2006). In our study, analysing mechanical parameters, we also registered a significantly higher Fi in QSC than in TNC. In contrast, Girard, Bishop & Racinais (2013) registered a greater Fi in TNC -19.7% than in HOT -16.5%, between 1 and 10 repetitions, which is the opposite result to ours. In contrast, Drust et al. (2005) recorded greater power decreases in HOT than in TNC. In the available literature, to date, in studies of 6-second efforts, RPE after each single exercise under different climatic conditions has not been frequently recorded (Billaut & Smith, 2010; Kappenstein et al., 2015; Mendez-Villanueva, Hamer & Bishop, 2008; Racinais et al., 2007). Périard et al. (2020), reported no significant differences in RPE between HOT and TNC. In our study, there were also no significant differences in this parameter between QSC and TNC.

In the study by Mohr et al. (2012) showed that the total distance sprinted was the same in HOT - 43 °C and TNC - 21 °C, while the peak and average velocity was higher in HOT than TNC conditions. Which is confirmed by our study as we recorded significantly higher Pmax in QSC. Mohr et al. (2010) revealed an almost 3% decrease in the performance of repeated 30 m sprints at an ambient temperature of 31.6 °C, which is similar to the 2–4% decrease observed during the matches analysed by Krustrup et al. (Mohr et al., 2006). Mohr et al. (2010) found that even in well-trained elite athletes, the ability to perform repeated high-intensity sprints and runs in the last 15 min of a match decreased significantly in HOT, induced by increasing fatigue. Hence, we can predict how soccer players will respond to high temperatures during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Therefore, further studies should look at the analysis of parameter changes over time.

When analysing the biochemical parameters, we found no significant differences between the climatic conditions, which may suggest that fatigue levels were very similar in both conditions. The only biochemical parameter in which there were significant changes was oxygen partial pressure, in the 10th repetition. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are very few new publication, e.g., pO₂ and pCO₂, in terms of the topic undertaken. Yamaguchi et al. (2020), recorded no significant differences in RSA between TNC (20 °C) and HOT (35 °C) in blood biochemical parameters such as lactate concentration, pH, HCO₃, pO₂. Furthermore, Mohr et al. (2012) comparing TNC (21 °C) and HOT (43 °C) matching conditions, recorded no significant differences in blood lactate concentration. In addition, in our study we did not register significant differences between QSC and TNC in this biochemical parameter. It is worth noting in particular that in the study by Yamaguchi et al. (2020), there was a 15 °C difference between HOT and TNC and in Mohr’s (Mohr et al., 2012) as much as 22 °C difference and yet there was no difference between climatic conditions in biochemical parameters. The implication is that the temperature difference does not modify biochemical responses for short 6 s repeated maximal efforts, perhaps it is too short effort for significant differences to occur between climatic conditions. Therefore, further studies analysing the body’s response to RSA under different climatic conditions are needed.

Kakamu et al. (2017) noted that acclimatization to heat can be critical in preventing heat illness, as it increases tolerance, adjusts the body’s sweating mechanism (such as the threshold body temperature for sweating), causes excessive sweating, and decreases the amount of sodium lost through sweat. Recently, heat acclimatization before competing in the heat has become an important measure for athletes, and heat acclimation has also become part of the training regimen for sports competition (Kakamu et al., 2017). Given that the weather cannot be changed (external and non-modifiable factor), heat preparedness efforts should focus on modifiable and internal personal factors (e.g., acclimatization, hydration, nutrition, pre-cooling), as well as allowing breaks when needed and lowering temperatures in warm-up areas and lowering temperatures in competition areas (Vanos et al., 2020).

A limitation of this study was that it was conducted in a climate chamber, a nonspecific environment for soccer players, and on a cycloergometer, which is not a characteristic exercise for soccer, and without a game-related stressor. Hence, the conclusions of this study should be used with caution. In further research, it would be advisable to carry out an experiment on different age groups and different sport levels, under natural conditions typical of soccer - on a grass pitch and a running effort, with different lengths of rest breaks. It would be possible to conduct such a study under a specialised balloon, simulating specific climatic conditions within it. Other biochemical indicators, both peripheral and central, could be used to better characterise the resulting fatigue. The strength of this study is primarily, well-defined conditions in a climate chamber were created to address the predicted climatic conditions that will prevail during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This is the first study that the capabilities of soccer players in terms of mechanical parameters and biochemical responses of the body were analyzed, in terms of the frequency of sprints performed by players in the game.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that the ambient temperature in which training sessions are conducted and matches played should be taken into account to predict the players’ exercise capacity and adopt an appropriate playing strategy. Coaches and training staffs should be mindful of the players’ greater ability in terms of power output at higher temperatures, while being mindful of the more rapid onset of fatigue and performance decline. On the other hand, the temperature difference between the climatic conditions, which was 8 °C, did not affect blood biochemical parameters. It seems justified to use cyclo-ergometer tests due to the direct possibility of registering the mechanical parameters and reactions of soccer players in simulated climatic conditions, which cannot be tested on the pitch.

Supplemental Information