FIFA World Cup 2026: Tuchel, Henderson dismiss Viagra rumours as England prepare for high-altitude test against Mexico
Mexico City, July 5
England's midfielder Jordan Henderson shrugged off the rumours that his side were using Viagra to cope with the high altitude in Mexico City ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup clash against Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca stadium here.
England have been focused on acclimatising to the demanding conditions at nearly 2,000 metres above sea level ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup clash with Mexico.
While the midfielder dismissed the speculation with humour, both he and England head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that the altitude in Mexico City has posed a genuine physical challenge for the squad as they prepare for the last-16 encounter.
Tuchel and Henderson brushed aside online rumours that England could use Viagra to counter the effects of the high altitude in Mexico City.
"The information to support it (Viagra rumours) didn't reach me, so that's not true," Tuchel told reporters as per Goal.com.
"Well, the Viagra helped, I think... I'm joking! It was a joke," Henderson joked.
"You can feel it a little bit, you can feel something. I felt it a little bit, even when you just land and you come to the hotel, and you're just walking around, you can feel something. And then today, in training, for me personally, I felt that maybe in the first 10-15 minutes and then once training got going, I stopped thinking about it so much and just concentrated on training," Henderson added.
According to Goal.com, the medication is not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), prompting reports that it could be used as a performance aid.
England face a tough Mexico side with a dominant home record, and a high altitude disadvantage at the iconic Azteca during the round of 16 clash on July 6.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a doctor in Mumbai, I can confirm there's zero medical evidence for Viagra helping with altitude sickness. It's a vasodilator, yes, but WADA's non-ban doesn't mean it's safe or effective for this. Glad Henderson laughed it off—this is just pre-match hype. Hope England plays well, but our Indian team showed real grit in similar conditions!
😅 Ye to cricket nahi, football hai! Altitude is real—I felt it in Ladakh. But Mexico's home record is scary; England will need more than jokes. Tuchel should study how India's Himalayan expeditions train. Hope it's a good match, not a sleep-inducing 0-0!
Honestly, I'm tired of such distractions. England should focus on tactics, not tabloid nonsense. The Azteca is a fortress even without altitude. My cousin in Delhi faced similar fake news during ISL—players should just laugh it off and play. Come on, give us a real contest!
As someone from Bangalore who has been to Mexico City, trust me, the altitude hits you like a wall. But Viagra? Come on, that's just the internet being silly. Glad Henderson has a sense of humor. Let's hope the game lives up to the hype! 🇮🇳⚽
😂 This is gold! But seriously, England have bigger problems—like that Mexico home record. Our Indian Super League players train in high altitudes sometimes, but we don't need blue pills. Tuchel is a tactical genius, but even he can
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