According to a recent study from researchers at Bielefeld University in Germany, fans' physiological stress increases by about 41 percent during a soccer final compared to a normal day. Heart rate also rose significantly, jumping from 70.9 beats per minute to 78.7 beats per minute'a difference even when compared to other weekends. Researchers at Bielefeld tracked 229 fans of the German club Arminia Bielefeld for three months. Participants wore smartwatches that continuously recorded heart rate and an estimated stress index based on heart rate variability, allowing researchers to compare the day of the 2025 German Cup final with the days leading up to the match. The physiological reaction to the soccer final began long before the match began. The researchers saw fans' stress levels begin to rise in the morning and peak just before kickoff. Even after the final whistle, viewers showed signs of elevated stress. Where you watch the game also makes a difference. The study found that fans...
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