Watching soccer is one of the world's most popular pastimes, but it does not always bring joy. For dedicated supporters, moments like losing a high-stakes derby, failing to secure a championship, or facing relegation can cause significant, and sometimes dangerous, levels of stress.
Recent research has confirmed that soccer fans' stress levels spike dramatically on important match days. A research team from Bielefeld University in Germany investigated the physical responses of fans during the final of the DFB-Pokal (German Cup). At the time, the final featured DSC Arminia Bielefeld (then a 3rd-division underdog) and VfB Stuttgart (a 1st-division mainstay). Bielefeld—a club where Korean players Cha Du-ri and Ryu Seung-woo have played—had reached the final stage for the first time in its history.
Stress Peaks as the Whistle Blows
The research team recruited 229 Bielefeld fans and analyzed data from their smartwatches over a 12-week period, spanning from 10 days before the final to 10 weeks after. The results showed that stress levels on the day of the final were 41% higher than usual. Stress began to climb sharply several hours before kickoff and peaked the moment the match started.
Heart rates also surged during the game. While the average resting heart rate was 70 beats per minute (bpm) on non-match days, it rose to 79 bpm on match day. Most notably, the average heart rate during the first 15 minutes of the match soared to 96 bpm. These physical responses were more pronounced in fans attending the match live at the stadium compared to those watching on TV, and were further intensified by alcohol consumption.
Risks to Cardiovascular Health
The research team warned that such acute physical changes could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).
"We confirmed that a fan's level of immersion and emotional intensity on match day leads to measurable physical responses," the team stated. They also noted that specific factors—such as the historical importance of the match and the fact that fans traveled roughly 400 km from Bielefeld to Berlin—likely contributed to the heightened stress levels.
The Match Itself, Not the Result, is the Trigger
In the end, Stuttgart won the match 4–2. Interestingly, despite the loss, there was no significant long-term change in the stress levels or heart rates of the Bielefeld fans following the result. The research team concluded, "Based on this data, the 'act of watching the match' itself appears to be the primary stressor rather than the final score, though a long-term study of at least one year is needed to confirm this."
The findings of this study were recently published in Scientific Reports, a highly regarded open-access journal.
