USMNT vs Honduras was so cold, two players were forced off with hypothermia
By Chris Smith
Honduras players Romell Quioto and Luis Lopez were forced off at half-time during Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against the United States due to the freezing weather conditions.
Los Catrachos have already been eliminated from the race for Qatar 2022 and sit bottom of the Concacaf qualifying table without a win. On Wednesday, they went down 3-0 to the USMNT with goals from Weston McKennie, Walker Zimmerman, and Christian Pulisic doing the damage at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
But the result itself mattered little. The biggest concern for the visitors was the health of their players with the game played at a chilling 5 degrees Fahrenheit - the coldest match in USMNT history.
Players were allowed to wear thermal clothing on the pitch due to the conditions, while supporters in the stands were offered free hand warmers upon entry.
Still, Honduras were forced to make two half-time substitutions with goalkeeper Lopez and forward Quioto withdrawn due to health reasons.
"Two players of the national team did not return for the second half of the qualifying game against USA due to the extreme weather conditions prevailing in the stadium," read a post on the Honduras Twitter account.
OFICIAL ||
— Selección Nacional de Honduras (@FenafuthOrg) February 3, 2022
Dos (2) jugadores de la selección Nacional no regresaron al segundo tiempo del juego eliminatorio ante #USA ?? por las condiciones climáticas extremas que imperan en el estadio #AllianzField.
Shortly after, Honduran commentator and reporter Oscar Funes confirmed the two players were being treated for hypothermia, with Quioto thankfully having already been stabilized.
Understandably, Honduras head coach Hernan Gomez was less than impressed with the decision to host the match in such dangerous and challenging conditions.
“It is difficult, very complicated. Soccer is not for suffering like that,” he said in his post-match press conference. “I cannot analyze the boys in this type of environment and match climate.
“In this qualifier, the United States does have an important difference, but playing like that doesn't work. It is not a football spectacle, it is not normal. In this situation, I am not able to do an analysis of the players. I'm not able to do it.”