Football and Insomnia: The Impact of Night Games

Professional footballers often play late at night — at 21:00 or 22:00, especially in European leagues. This disrupts sleep patterns and reduces recovery time. UEFA Champions League matches usually start at 21:00, and after they end, players cannot sleep for 2-3 hours due to adrenaline. This affects the efficiency of the next game.

Time zone changes (jet lag) are a serious problem in international matches. European teams traveling to Asia and South America experience time differences of 8-12 hours. Research shows that one day of adaptation is needed for every hour of time difference. Therefore, teams arrive 3-5 days in advance to adapt.

Uzbekistan footballers also struggle with time zones during long trips in Asia. Matches in Japan and South Korea can be problematic due to the time difference. Maintaining sleep hygiene, arriving sufficiently early, and using melatonin (on a doctor's recommendation) help alleviate this problem.