The countdown to the most important World Cup matches not only sparks enthusiasm among fans. It can also increase anxiety, disrupt sleep, and even encourage higher alcohol consumption. According to specialists from the Hospital de Clínicas at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), consultations related to these conditions tend to rise during major football tournaments.
Psychiatrist Juan Ignacio Ingelmo, a member of the Mental Health Department at Hospital de Clínicas, explained that the emotional intensity sparked by a World Cup has a psychological and social basis, although he warned that when these symptoms begin to interfere with daily life, it is important to seek professional help.
According to Ingelmo, the emotional impact of the tournament goes far beyond sports. «Football in general, and a World Cup in particular, activates something that goes far beyond sport,» he noted. The specialist explained that people build part of their identity based on the groups they belong to, and the National Team represents one of the strongest collective symbols. «When the National Team plays, it’s not just a team on the field. It’s a collective representation of ourselves. That explains why the emotional burden is so intense,» he stated.
Added to this component is the shared nature of the experience. For the psychiatrist, the World Cup is one of the few events capable of emotionally synchronizing millions of people at the same time, a situation that amplifies individual emotions. The anticipation of a decisive match activates biological mechanisms similar to those that appear in situations of uncertainty. «The body doesn’t distinguish very well between a real threat and a symbolic threat,» Ingelmo explained. Consequently, the release of stress-related hormones increases, heart rate accelerates, attention focuses on the event, and sleep can be disrupted.
The specialist clarified that this response is normal and can even be part of enjoying the competition. However, he warned that the problem arises when that emotional activation exceeds the person’s ability to regulate. The doctor recommended paying attention to certain symptoms that may appear in the days leading up to an important match and that reflect a disproportionate emotional response. Although he clarified that these manifestations do not necessarily imply the presence of an anxiety disorder, he noted that they can indicate that the emotional response exceeds what is expected for a sporting event.
In people who already have a predisposition to anxiety, he added, uncertainty about the outcome, lack of control over the match’s development, and constant exposure to information, analysis, and debates can amplify previously controlled symptoms. For Ingelmo, the main criterion for seeking help is the impact that symptoms have on daily life. «If anxiety related to the sporting context is persistently affecting sleep, hindering concentration at work or studies, causing physical symptoms such as palpitations, significant muscle tension, frequent gastrointestinal discomfort, or deteriorating the quality of close relationships, that already justifies a consultation,» he stated.
The specialist also warned about another warning sign: when the person begins to use alcohol or other substances as a strategy to manage emotional tension. The psychiatrist emphasized that the goal is not to experience the tournament with less enthusiasm, but to maintain a perspective that allows enjoying it without it taking over all aspects of life. «Intensely enjoying an event does not require losing sight that it is, ultimately, a game. That does not take away emotion or importance, but it does provide a framework that protects,» he said.
Among the recommendations, he suggested respecting usual sleep schedules whenever possible, especially when matches are played at night and there are work or academic obligations the next day. Finally, he advised moderating alcohol consumption, limiting constant exposure to analysis and social media before and after matches, and being mindful of the tone of football conversations to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Para mí esto es un verso de la psiquiatría burguesa. El capitalismo nos dopamina con el Mundial para que no veamos la miseria. Los médicos son cómplices del sistema que nos explota. ¡Abajo el fútbol mercantilizado! Los que se estresan son alienados que creen que ganar un partido es importante. Hagan terapia de clase, che.
Para mí estos psiquiatras de cuarta son unos vendidos. El mundial es guerra y el que no aguanta que se vuelva a la casa de la mamá. Ansiedad? Eso es falta de huevos, hermano. Dejen de llorar y tomen fernet como machos. Esto huele a progres metido en el Hospital de Clínicas. Viva la argentinidad carajo! 🇦🇷